ACAP receives $25,000 Walmart grant

By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
    PRESQUE ISLE — The Aroostook County Action Program is the recent recipient of a $25,000 grant which will be used to teach healthy eating habits.
    “The Walmart Foundation recently awarded a grant of $25,000 to Aroostook County Action Program, Inc. through its State Giving Program. The grant is for the ‘Walmart Weight Wisdom’ project to establish a hands-on educational program for adult Women, Infant and Children (WIC) clients and other low-income individuals to improve nutrition and increase healthy eating habits,” said Kim Smith, resource developer for ACAP.
    Smith said the project will be administered by ACAP’s Healthy Aroostook Program and will be offered at the Presque Isle and Houlton Walmart stores.
    “The goals of the project are to increase daily servings of fruits and vegetables consumed, improve self-reported healthy eating habits and improve the understanding of nutrition by program participants. These goals will be accomplished through hands-on nutrition education, both in a classroom setting and in the Walmart stores for participants to learn to read labels for improved nutrition and to stretch food dollars,” Smith explained.
    Classes will include grocery store tours educating participants on how to read labels for better nutrition, stretching the food dollar and choosing items with better nutritional value, a class on what food groups should be included in each meal and a crock pot cooking class.
    “These classes will promote better nutrition, wiser food choices and the ability to stretch food dollars and purchase more nutritious food. Participants who attend all four classes will receive a voucher which can be redeemed at Walmart for a crock pot and the ingredients used in the crock pot class. A gas or child care voucher will also be provided as an incentive to encourage greater participation,” Smith said.
    Smith said other Walmart shoppers will be able to attend the classes as well, but will not be eligible for the vouchers.
    “Information will be mailed to all qualifying WIC recipients each month, including those unable to attend classes,” she said.
    The first month of the project will be used for planning and recruiting.
    “Once WIC recipients have been recruited, the program will be explained more fully to participants and a letter of understanding must then be signed. Starting in the third month, classes will be held in each Walmart location,” said Smith.
    ACAP provides services and resources that help individuals and families achieve greater economic independence. For more information on ACAP or any of its programs or services, visit www.acap-me.org, call 764-3721 or stop by the ACAP main office at 771 Main St. in Presque Isle.