Members of Voices for a Healthy SouthCoast, of which Healthy City Fall River is a part, met on August 30, 2011 at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) headquarters in New Bedford to hear from Erin Redding, RD, LDN, of the New England Dairy & Food Council. She presented on Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council and National Football League, in collaboration with USDA.  The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low fat and fat free dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Schools are eligible to apply for up to $4,000 per year to increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity opportunities for students. Applications are done on-line with deadlines on October and December 1st, 2011 and February and June 1st, 2012. "I'm available to provide assistance to applicants throughout the South Coast who want to submit an application," stated Ms. Redding who described a very successful project that ran in the Roosevelt Middle School in New Bedford on June 11, 2011 that received some Fuel Up To Play funding.. For more information about the program, contact her at eredding@newenglanddairy.com. To learn more about becoming involved In VOICES, contact Donna Querim at 508-679-7187 or Nancy Bonell at 508-996-9622 X 25.

(Top row) VOICES participants Gail Roderigues, Amanda Szot and Donna Querim listen to the presentation on the Fuel Up To Play 60 program by Erin Redding, RD, LDN, of the New England Dairy & Food Council. (Middle row, left) Patricia Demeo of Fairhaven asks about the kinds of projects that the program could fund. (Bottom row, left and right) Derek Christianson of Brix Bounty Farm raises issues about the nutritional value of foods that many children are eating today. (Bottom row, center) Kellen Gonsalves describes the current training available to students who want to become involved with the The 84.org a youth-led movement fighting for a tobacco-free generation in Massachusetts.

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