Healthy Savannah Mini Grant Program 2015_FeilerPark

Healthy Savannah’s Healthy Communities Mini Grant Program The Mini Grant Program announces its requests for applications for the 2015/2016 funding year The Grant Program intends to fund proposals that result in sustainable environmental and/or policy change which promotes physical activity or improves nutrition Healthy Savannah’s Healthy Communities Project Action Plan – At a Glance Priority No – Increase number of active community environments  Utilize urban planning approaches that promote physical activity – Plan and fund a network of streets, pathways, parks and trails that support walking and biking within neighborhoods, city centers, schools and senior centers Priority No – Access to Health-Promoting Foods    Increase access to fruits and vegetables consumed by community residents Establish community gardens to make fresh, local produce more readily available Increase access to and promotion of healthy foods at restaurants and businesses, for example, through nutrition labeling on menus Priority No – Increase number of people who have access to low cost or free recreational opportunities    Increase community ownership, involvement in, and use of public facilities by establishing Adopt-A-Park Volunteer Program Increase opportunities for play by building “activity courses” (i.e., a Frisbee course) and providing covered recreation facilities in selected parks Establish intramural sports programs in schools and worksites The Healthy Savannah Healthy Communities Project is a community-level response to combat the obesity epidemic in our community, and the chronic diseases to which it contributes, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke These diseases are on the rise in Savannah, across the region and nationwide Obesity is absolutely preventable through healthier eating and being physically active Healthy Savannah is an organization of community agencies and partners committed to the idea that the best way to address the obesity problem is through collaboration and cooperation among various groups and individuals in the community That means carrying forward new ways to: Transform our community with a more fitness-friendly urban recreational environment that encourages more bicycling, walking and trails Promote the eating of more fruits and vegetables as a healthy alternative to junk food and snacks that offer little to no nutritional value, through community gardens and other means Provide low-cost to no-cost recreational opportunities that encourage individuals and families of all ages to get out in our parks system and playfields and participate in intramural sports, pickup sports or other types of physical activity Applications that demonstrate group collaborations are encouraged Projects that are funded will be required to send a representative to the Healthy Savannah meetings for a period of one year to report on project progress and milestones Funding Period Mini Grants will be awarded for a twelve month period Award Amounts Applicants may apply for up to $1000 for a project Each application will be reviewed by a panel of volunteer community leaders from Healthy Savannah and awarded based on criteria outlines on pages & The Healthy Savannah Healthy Communities Mini Grant Program is funded through the YMCA’s Pioneering Healthier Communities program and the City of Savannah Contact Information Direct all questions about mini grants and address all completed applications to: Joel Smoker, Past Chair, Healthy Savannah YMCA of Coastal Georgia P.O Box 14142 Savannah, GA 31416 (912) 354-5480 or susan.lindsey@ymcaofcoastalga.org Application Submission and Format Application may be submitted electronic copy via email, however if you choose to send it electronically, it must be as an attachment and the file will need to be complete in MS Word If you choose to apply in writing, you will need to provide copies Electronic applications are preferred Why Emphasize Policy And/Or Environmental Change? One-time events (health fairs, school presentations etc.) can help increase awareness of behaviors that promote or hinder health Yet, will this project lead to positive behavior change? The answer will vary, depending on the individual’s readiness Organizational policy and environmental changes, once institutionalized take the decision making away from the individual and increase healthy eating and physical activity for all constituents for a sustained length of time Policy and environmental change makes the easy choice the healthy choice Characteristics of Events Examples of Events One Time Celebrating days a week Unique: Usually not result in behavior change Hosting a Family Fitness Night Individual Provide healthy food at staff meetings Short in duration Sponsor a youth sports event Characteristics of Policy & Environmental Change Examples of Policy & Environmental Change Ongoing Develop policy to include vegetables & fruits and inschool a la carte options Repeated: Promote behavior change over time Make the school athletic facilities available to community members Policy Level Part of an ongoing plan Adopt a food and beverage policy Long term Adopt a policy to establish intramural programs and physical activity clubs in youth organizations or schools (e.g dancing, hiking, yoga) that feature a diverse selection of competitive and non- competitive, structured and unstructured activities, (2) meet the needs and interests of all students with a wide range of abilities, particularly those with limited athletic skills and (3) emphasize participation without pressure Examples of Policy Change          Adding fruits and vegetables to school’s a la carte options and marketing changes Making school athletic facilities available to community members Adopting use of research based nutrition and physical activity curriculum in schools and other youth programs Purchase and use equipment that supports increased vegetable and fruit consumption such as fruit wedges for use in school food service Purchase an apple vending machine for schools Establish a policy to serve 1% or less milk and low fat dairy products in food programs Conduct educational and marketing campaigns to encourage switching to low fat nutrition Adopt CDC guidelines for school and community programs to promote lifelong physical activity among young people Train physical activity staff on developing adaptive physical activity programs Grant Awards will be based on Applications that:      Address a Healthy Savannah Healthy Communities Project Priority Effectively use strategy in the project Result in policy and/or environmental change – demonstrate sustainability Demonstrate the greatest likelihood of impact on the target group they are serving Demonstrate partnerships and collaborations The review team will consist of the Healthy Savannah volunteer community leaders and partnership members Any members affiliated directly with an application will excuse themselves from review or award decisions related to that application The review team will use a point system to evaluate each application     Healthy Communities Project Strategy = 10 Points Project Overview (need, objective, expected results, activities, partners) = 40 Points Policy & Environmental changes expected = 30 Points Budget (how funds will be utilized) = 20 Points Healthy Savannah’s Healthy Communities Project Mini Grant Program Application Organization / Applicant Name: _Feiler Park Neighborhood Association _ Brief Description of organization / applicant: The Feiler Park Neighborhood Association, Inc mission is to work together with officials of the City of Savannah and Chatham County to upgrade and maintain services in the Feiler Park Community that will provide the residents with the quality residential life experience they deserve in their neighborhood Contact Person for Project: _Dr Betty Jones _ Address: _601 W 57th St., Savannah, GA 31403 Phone: _(912)236-1974 _ Cell: _(912)663-3172 _ Fax: Email: _bettyj2@bellsouth.net Amount Requested for Project: $ 1000.00 Healthy Communities Project Strategy / Priority (check all that apply) _ Priority No - Increase number of active community environments X_ Priority No – Access to Health-Promoting Foods _ Priority No – Increase number of people who have access to low cost or free recreational opportunities Project Overview: Clearly state the need for the project, its objectives and expected results, the project activities, location (s), partners and target audience Please attach additional pages if necessary (40 Points) The Feiler Park Community Garden meets several pressing needs for the community In this southwest Savannah community, the USDA Food Access map categorizes this community as both low-income and low-access, meaning for most residents grocery stores are more than a ½ mile away in the census tract Furthermore, this area has a high crime rate, with 151 Part I crimes as of this year, many crimes committed by youth without activities or places to gather In addition, the Coastal Georgia Indicators data shows that this census tract also has a large percentage of residents 65 and older who are below the poverty line (>12.8%), and an overall median income of $12,225 Given this information, the need for a place for affordable, accessible and healthy food, as well as activity space and programming for the area youth, families and seniors is a need that this community garden can fill The garden is located at the corner of Medding and W 57th St Currently, through the Feiler Park Neighbohood Association led by Betty Jones, a small committee of gardeners has gathered to start learning about how to design and build a community garden The garden committee has had three meetings, looking at other garden designs in the City, and creating an outline of potential supplies and a budget to meet those needs (budget and design ideas are attached) Pending the City’s approval of the design, budget and application, which are now submitted, the Feiler Park Community Garden is now looking for funds to support both the physical construction of raised beds, paths and fencing, and the support of a small crew of local high school students (including girls from the Girls Rites of Passage Youth Group) to help with the implementation of the design In future years, this garden, located adjacent to both the Neighborhood Center and a local park, could be the location of Parks and Recreation summer food programs, supplementing the activities of this department with additional gardening and recreation opportunities In the design, elements for both seniors (higher raised beds and benches) as well as youth (a smaller area for a children’s garden and wildlife garden) will add to the multi-generational appeal of the space Employing a few youth to both learn how to garden this fall and maintain the garden through to winter will help to build a solid foundation A small plot rental fee will also help to maintain the garden in the future, and to build it with the hopes of providing future space for community events, like reunions, National Night Out and theGirls Rites of Passage graduation The partners to help support this project in the future include the Thomas Square Edible Park, which leads educational sessions in building raised beds and planting gardens, as well as for-profit organizations, like Victory Gardens, to help with installation Furthermore, volunteers from the community, like the Savannah Youth Ambassadors and the Savannah Urban Garden Alliance, intend to support gardening projects like Feiler Park in the future with both labor and gardening supply rental We look forward to solidifying these partnerships with the knowledge that the garden space has seed funding to complete their plan and begin implementation Explain how the project will result in policy and / or environmental change Please attach additional pages if necessary (30 Points) Currently, the Feiler Park community has maintenance and property crime issues that stem from poverty, a lack of activities for youth, and a need for positive community space that increases eyes on the street and opportunities for families and community members to gather and learn skills Through a small stipend for youth to assist senior gardeners in the completion and maintenance of the garden, there will be a gaining of both skills by the younger generation that can support a growing local food movement, as well as support for a generation of senior citizens that needs healthy food and social space The location of the garden (see attached map) provides a perfect intersection between the City Park and the Neighborhood Center, creating a corridor of community activity in the heart of Feiler Park Neighborhood attachment relates to one’s emotional connection to physical and social environments These bonds are important for shaping how people interact with their local environments, connect with others and support sustainable health behavior change related to nutrition and physical activity In one study of 410 community residents, a study of perceived neighborhood conditions showed length of residency, collective efficacy, and home and community garden participation are associated with neighborhood attachment, which helps to improve social capitol and reduce crime rates in neighborhoods (Comstack, Dickenson, Marshall, Soobader, Turbin, Buchenau, Litt, 2010) In conclusion, the garden construction and associated programs should help to create a better attachment and sense of responsibility in the community, which in turn can have a ripple effect in surrounding property maintenance, health outcomes and crime rates To establish the garden, we are planning to hold a palette raised bed construction workshop in late August to start the gardening process for the fall, using Savannah Youth Ambassador volunteers (12 students for hours) trained by Albert Strickland of the Thomas Square Edible Park What other sources are you seeking assistance from for this project: 1. Savannah Youth Ambassador Program (Cities of Service) _ Rowes Company (Donation of palette material) _ _ _ Budget: (20 Points)   Water hookup with the city, $450 Self-wicking raised beds o Made from pallets, painted, ft X ft X Ft – Free, donated by Rowes Co o Water proof lining - 10-ft x 25-ft x 6-mil Clear Consumer Sheeting, Blue Hawk= $24.98 X = $49.96 Gravel at the bottom of raised beds= 6X cubic ft X $3.65/bag = $43.80 o ¾ “ 10 ft PVC pipe with holes = X $2.61 = $15.66 o Good compost from WellFed (free) or Longwood Plantation (donated) o Total Cost for Raised Beds = $109.42 Trees and shrubs o meyer lemon tree - $40.00 o fig tree - $33.75 o kumquat tree - $24.75 o peach trees (dwarf) - $7.75 o Muscadine grape plant - $4.75 o Total: $103.75 Wooden Fencing= $485.46 Saw dust for paths, top of compost from Fahm St Furniture Company (free) Seeds from SeedSavers.org, Seedlings J.P Cooper in Pt Wentworth = Approximately $50.00 ($2.00/seed packet or $2.00 per seedling =25 seed packet, 25 seedlings Tools: Borrowed from neighbors and Savannah Urban Garden Alliance Stipends for Youth Garden Crew: $500 ($100 per student, one Saturday/month for September, October, November, December) o       Budget Summary: Total Amount Requested $ 1000.00 Other Resources / Financial Support $ _698.63 _ Volunteers $ 480.00 (in kind) Local Community Support $ _72.00 (Palettes donated) Other: Savannah Urban Garden Alliance Tools Total Project Cost: $ 2250.63 Required Attachments: Listing of Organizations current Board of Directors Copy of Organizations certification of 501C3 status Signature of Applicant: Date: 7/23/2015 Please Print Name: Betty M Jones _ Statement of Expectations for Healthy Savannah’s Healthy Communities Project Mini Grant Program When accepting funds and participating in the MiniGrant Program that addresses obesity and obesity related conditions, it is expected that mini-grant recipients will adhere to the following guidelines: Name of Organization: _     Representative will attend Healthy Savannah meetings as necessary Spend mini-grant funds as described or seek prior approval to change project goals Participate in citywide campaign promoting project activity Complete and submit final report on or before _ 2016 10 Name (Print): Signature: _ Date: _ 11 ... from Healthy Savannah and awarded based on criteria outlines on pages & The Healthy Savannah Healthy Communities Mini Grant Program is funded through the YMCA’s Pioneering Healthier Communities program. .. _ Statement of Expectations for Healthy Savannah? ??s Healthy Communities Project Mini Grant Program When accepting funds and participating in the MiniGrant Program that addresses obesity and... expected = 30 Points Budget (how funds will be utilized) = 20 Points Healthy Savannah? ??s Healthy Communities Project Mini Grant Program Application Organization / Applicant Name: _Feiler Park Neighborhood