Press Releases - CFNM.org

Six elementary schools across DeSoto County will be flourishing with fresh vegetables soon through a project of the Kiwanis Club of DeSoto County. School Gardens have been established at Shadow Oaks, Center Hill, Hope Sullivan, Oak Grove Central, Walls and Pleasant Hill Elementary Schools. Administrators and teachers plan to use these new educational gardens as outdoor classrooms where children can apply a variety of academic subjects as well as learn about growing healthy foods. Four-by-eight foot beds have been installed at each of the schools and students have planted radish and lettuce seeds as well as other vegetables in hopes that the first harvest might come before the end of the school year.

The DeSoto County Community Health Council recognized the Kiwanis Club of DeSoto County on Monday, May 12 at the Shadow Oaks Elementary (K-2^nd grade) School Garden. “As a Club we had the opportunity to hand-pick a project and we are glad that this is the one we chose”, Jason Horn, President. “Giving the students the opportunity to see that vegetables come from the ground and not the supermarket aisle is a lesson in itself.”

The DeSoto County Community Health Council, a component of the GET A LIFE! Health initiative of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, seeks nominations each month for a ‘health champion’. This could be a person, school, church, organization or business that has been an advocate for healthy lifestyles in DeSoto County. “The Kiwanis Club of DeSoto County is a perfect example of a health champion and we are honored to recognize them for April”, Mellany Evans, Chair of the DeSoto County Community Health Council.

The Kiwanis Club and the participating schools will have assistance from the master gardeners program as well as the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Members of the Club, including project coordinator Lycia Callahan, received support from Southern Exterior landscape & Garden Center of Hernando, Quality Landscape & Garden Center of Olive Branch and the Lowe’s stores in Southaven and Olive Branch in providing the beds at the six schools. The schools look forward to having parents and other community members involved as the project continues. “We are speaking with the same voice across DeSoto County”, Traci Suiter, Principal at Shadow Oaks Elementary. “Our school district’s priorities are safety, academics and extra-curricular activities. Our ultimate goal is to promote health, wellness, and nutrition within our curriculum and improve student academics”.

To learn more about the Kiwanis Club or to become a member call 901.340.7255. To learn more about GET A LIFE! visit www.kidsgetalife.org or call 662.298.0027. To nominate a health champion for May, send nomination to plinton@cfnm.org.

Accepting the April Health Champion Recognition for the Kiwanis Club of DeSoto County is President Jason Horn (center back). Also present were: (Standing t to r) Jean Nunnally, Assistant Principal at Shadow Oaks Elementary, Janaye Anderson of GET A LIFE!, Horn, Chlonda Abston, Community Health Council member and Kiwanis Club members Brant Ray and Wesley Callahan.

(seated l to r) Traci Suiter, Principal at Shadow Oaks, Lycia Callahan, project coordinator for the Kiwanis Club, Mellany Evans, Chair of the Community Health Council, Club member Enna Gillihan and Peggy Linton of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.