Purpose: To develop sustainable strategies that encourages the population of Crow Wing County to make healthy choices.
GENERAL DESIRED OUTCOMES:
- Increase access to healthy food choices.
- Increase active living opportunities and active lifestyles.
- Promote and support healthy environments.
The Healthy Choices Goal Group meets the first Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9am.
To get involved with this Goal Group please contact co-chairs
Mark Ostgarden mostgarden@ci.brainerd.mn.us or
Joanna Collins jcollins@blymca.org
IDENTIFIED FOCUS AREAS:
AGING COALITION
Approaches: Meet regularly to develop and promote health and wellness options for the aging population in Crow Wing County. Click to download PDF with detailed information about The Guiding Principles. Aging Coalition Guiding Principles
FOOD RESOURCES
University of Minnesota Extension’s SNAP-Ed program makes the healthy choice the easy choice for Minnesotans with limited financial resources.
Click to download PDF of Food Resources in Crow Wing County FoodResourcesBrochure 2017
SUMMER PROGRAM FOR FREE MEALS FOR KIDS through Operation Sandwich and Schools
218-829-2619
Provides kids with a simple bag lunch Monday – Thursday during summer school break.
Operation Sandwich
June 4 – August 30
There are no income requirements, no collecting of names, and lunches are free to the community.
All are welcome! 2018 program presenting supporters are Cuyuna Regional Medical Center and Essentia Health.
Brainerd/Baxter Locations
Lowell Elementary, Monday – Thursday 11:40 am to 12:05 pm
Garfield Elementary, Monday – Thursday 12:40 to 1:05 pm
Harrison Elementary, Monday – Thursday 12:25 to 12:50 pm
Whipple Beach Park, Baxter, Monday – Thursday 11:55 am to 12:20 pm
Barrows Town Hall, Monday – Thursday 11:50 am to 12:15 pm
Stoneybrook, Monday – Thursday 12:30 to 12:55 pm
Gregory Park, Monday – Thursday 12:15 to 12:40
Kiwanis Park, Monday – Thursday 11:45 am to 12:10 pm
To volunteer for this United Way of Crow Wing & Southern Cass Counties program, sign up online https://www.unitedwaynow.org/operationsandwich?q=operationsandwich
The Book Wagon
Take a Bite Out of Boredom with Books
On Thurdays, the Book Wagon follows Operation Sandwich to Lowell, Garfield and Harrison schools and distributes new and gently used, age appropriate books to the children picking up lunches.
Reading recovery + ISD 181 will have open libraries for children to come, hang out and grab a book at the elementary schools noted above.
ISD 181 Kids Summer Food Program
Washington Education Building
Cafeteria is located in the basement.
Monday – Friday, June 4 – August 24
Breakfast 8:30 to 9 am
Lunch 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
For children 18 and under.
Cuyuna Lakes Lunch Bunch
Nutritious lunches will be available to area youth again this summer through the Cuyuna Lakes Lunch Bunch, a free program organized by area churches and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.
The lunches are available on weekdays starting Monday, June 4, through Friday, August 31, except Wednesday, July 4. They will be at the following locations:
11:15 to 11:35 a.m. in Deerwood Veteran’s Park across from the American Legion;
11:45 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. at Crosby Food Shelf, 302 Cross Ave.; and
12:15 to 12:35 p.m. in Ironton at Grandpa’s Park behind Wells Fargo.
Last year, a total of 4,861 lunches were served through the program. That amount compares to 4,650 lunches in summer 2016; 3,820 in 2015 and 900 in 2014, the program’s first year.
For more information or to contribute to the Lunch Bunch, contact Ellen Brandt at St. Vincent de Paul, eltrbrandt@gmail.com.
HEALTHY SCHOOL FOOD DAY
Approaches: Healthy Concessions, Vending machines, Farm to school, School gardens.
Click to view child-friendly clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Inq95os6cY&feature=youtu.be
Click to download breakfast idea flyer 1-Breakfast
ACTIVE SCHOOL DAY
Approaches: Active Recess, Before and after school activity, PE curriculum, Safe Route to School
Click link below to read Brainerd Dispatch article about active classrooms
http://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/4162820-busy-bodies-busy-minds
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Approaches: Safe indoor and outdoor space for activity, Breast feeding education/training & storage, Healthy food options/gardens in the day care setting.
Click to download PDFs to help improve the health of children in your day care center Child Care Partnership Options or to encourage active play for day care centers or at home Active_play_earlychildhood
Click to view the webinar that was done for child care centers on Oct. 27. Start at 1:50, approximately one hour long. https://mde.webex.com/mde/lsr.php?RCID=e86981c8fba7488f93c31e88722b5b43
HEALTHY FOOD IN THE COMMUNITY
Approaches: Food Shelves (click here for a link to Promoting Healthy Eating at Food Shelves), Farmer’s Market availability & possible EBT addition, City gardens.
FARMERS MARKETS
Make healthy choices and support farmers by purchasing fresh locally grown produce!
Click to download Farmers Market PDF CWE farmers market list
TUESDAYS in Brainerd | 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. to mid-October
Franklin Arts Center Parking Lot 1001 Kingwood St, Brainerd
brainerdfarmersmarket.com | info@brainerdfarmersmarket.com
TUESDAYS in Brainerd | 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. starting June 26
Laurel Street Parking Lot Between S. 6th Street and S. 7th St, Brainerd (616 Laurel)
brainerdsmarket@gmail.com | https://brainerdsmarket.wixsite.com/mysite
(218) 828-2307 (ask for Jared) | contact for free vendor entry
THURSDAYS in Nisswa | 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. to October 27
American Legion Parking Lot 25807 Main St, Nisswa
FRIDAYS in Baxter | 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. to mid-October
Viking Land Harley-Davidson parking lot, 7915 Highway 210, Baxter
brainerdfarmersmarket.com | info@brainerdfarmersmarket.com
FRIDAYS in Pine River | 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. May 25 to September 28
Pine River Market Square 3rd & Barclay, Downtown Pine River
https://prmarketsquare.wordpress.com | prmarketsquare@gmail.com
SATURDAYS at Ideal Corners | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Farmers’ Market in Ideal, 34988 Co Rd 39, Pequot Lakes
Accepts Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
SATURDAYS at Deerwood | 9:00 a.m. – Noon
The Backyard Greenhouse, 22250 County Road 135, Deerwood
Find info on FaceBook
SATURDAYS in Crosby | 9 a.m. to Noon June 2 to October 13
Cuyuna Range Farmers Market, Main Street Plaza at the corner of Cross and Main
Accepts Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
cuyunarangefarmersmarket@gmail.com
Find info on FaceBook
CROW WING COUNTY FOOD SHELVES
Brainerd Lakes Salvation Army Food Shelf, 208 S 5th St, Brainerd | 218-829-1120 | Tues. – Fri. 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Cuyuna Range Food Shelf, 302 Cross Ave, Crosby | 218-546-7444 | 2nd & 3rd Wed. 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Crosslake Emergency Food Shelf, 34212 CR 3, Crosslake | 218-692-1004 | 1st & 3rd Fri. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Emily Area Food Shelf, 20948 Co. Rd. #1, Emily | 218-763-3097 | 3rd Wed. 9:30 – 11 a.m. & Thurs. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. & 1st Wed. 9:30 – 11 a.m. bread & produce only
Garrison Area Care Givers Food Shelf, 9535 Madison St., Garrison | 320-692-5399 | Tues. & Thurs. 1 – 5 p.m.
Lakes Area Food Shelf, 29280 State Hwy 371, Pequot Lakes | 218-568-8474 | Tues. & Thurs. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Click to download flyer with ideas to lower your food costs SmartFood-Feb2015
ACTIVE LIVING
Approaches: Walkable & Bikeable Communities, Safe Routes to School, Project Revive.
Click for information about City of Baxter Parks and trails
http://www.baxtermn.gov/departments/public-works/parks-and-trails/
Click for information about City of Brainerd trails http://www.ci.brainerd.mn.us/docs/maps/
Click for information about Cuyuna Lakes mountain bikes trails http://cuyunalakesmtb.com/trails/
Click for information about St. Mathias Park Trails with Heritage Walking Route highlighted SMP trail 4548 CR 121 (7-5-15)
SMOKE-FREE HOUSING
Approaches: Smoke-free multi-unit housing policy change
Click to download PDF information from the CDC about second hand smoke 2nd hand smoke handout
CLINICAL COMMUNITY LINKAGES
Approaches: Increase access to evidence-based lifestyle change and prevention programs. (1. NDPP 2. Matter of Balance 3. Tai Chai 4. Silver Sneakers 5. Living Well with Chronic Conditions)
