Let’s Go! Kennebec, a local dissemination partner of the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program at Inland Hospital, has awarded $3,000 in mini-grants to six youth programs throughout Kennebec County. These programs focus on healthy eating and active living and will reach more 550 children across Kennebec County, according to a news release from Inland Hospital.

At the Alfond Youth Center Boys & Girls Club, grant money is being used for growing vegetables in an organic gardening project for the program youth’s daily snack. The Alfond Youth Center Boys & Girls Club staff has heard that the gardening project was so popular that some families are now gardening at home, and several youth have taken a strong interest in the program and are being trained to be “special assistants” and peer mentors, according to the release.

The Albion and Benton Before & After School Programs’ grant funded their Feeling Good Mileage Clubs, a walking program. Director Nancy Simpson said, “We now have all the materials needed to keep kids, walking, and moving. We have a large variety of physical activity equipment and walking program materials so every child should be able to find something to do that will interest them,” according to the release.

The Winslow Before and After School Program and Vassalboro Before & After School Program is being funded for providing equipment that promotes physical fitness and healthy bodies for both winter and summer use at their programs, and at the Winthrop Kids Club, grant money is being used to build upon the success of their Let’s Go! program they established over the last few years.

The grant opportunity was funded by Let’s Go!, a program of The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, is implemented in partnership with MaineHealth. Let’s Go! Kennebec is currently administered locally at Inland Hospital in Waterville. For more information about the Let’s Go! Kennebec program, call 861-3293 or visit inlandhospital.org.


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