Children in the 21st Century programs at the John J. Doran Elementary Schools helped to kick-off Fall River's first Soda-free Summer Pledge Campaign on June 2, 2011. The event announced the beginning of a City-wide effort to request children of all ages to pledge to reduce or eliminate soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages from their diet for at least the coming summer. Similar campaigns have been launched in California and Boston in previous years. "We want to engage children in the process of thinking about what they drink and whether it's good for them," stated Healthy City Fall River coordinator David S. Weed, Psy.D. Project leader Pat Bebo of the University of Massachusetts Extension Nutrition Education Program pointed out that sugar has no nutritional value and is a food that should be consumed only occasionally. School Wellness coordinator Marcia Picard added that children will be learning more about the importance of avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages in their health classes in the coming weeks. Students will then be asked to sign one of the 15,000 pledge forms printed by Saint Anne's Hospital, and a copy of each will be placed on display at Government Center over the summer. Click here to see the video of the event. Click here for photos of the Walk-to-School Day and here for photos of improved school lunches. For more information on these projects, contact Dr. Weed at 508-324-2411.

(Top row) School Wellness coordinator Marcia Picard talks with the students from the 21st Century program at the Doran School about the Soda-free Summer Pledge campaign. (Middle row) Healthy City Fall River coordinator David Weed and University of Massachusetts Extension Nutrition Education Program project leader Pat Bebo talk about water as a better choice than sugar-sweetened beverages. (Bottom row, right) Partners for a Healthier Community chairperson and United Neighbors of Fall River executive director Wendy Garf-Lipp serves the children sample of  water chilled with fresh frozen strawberries.