Success Story: Taking Steps to Better Health
It all began August 2004. Shelby Sanders set out to make healthy changes in her church, Wesley Chapel AME Church. Sanders sat down with her pastor, Rev. Freda Humphrey to discuss her concerns. Rev. Humphrey gave Shelby permission to create a Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Committee. Shelby immediately put together a committee and met with Jamie Pearce, Johnston County Health Promotion Coordinator, to begin working on some activities.
A water pitcher policy was immediately put into effect and is ongoing. The water pitcher policy states that water will be offered at any event. The PAN committee coordinated a Salad Night for those that attended their Wednesday night bible study. The church then hosted a Families Eating Smart, Moving More training for the community. Jamie Pearce, along with Debbie Stroud, the Johnston County Cooperative Extension Agent, were trainers for this training.
The congregation seemed to be on the right track with changing their eating habits. They had begun eating less fried foods, eating more fruits and vegetables and increasing their water intake, but were lacking in physical activity. Shelby Sanders, the Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator, felt this was an opportune time to implement a walking program. She decided to implement Taking Steps to Better Health. She thought it would be a way for the members and the community to get some needed exercise and have fun the old fashioned way...walking!
"We worked hard and for good health! Thank you!"
The Road to Success
With the continued support of their pastor, the committee began advertising by placing flyers in local businesses and sending letters to local faith organizations. In order to participate, each team member paid one dollar. Participants were asked to select teams of five or less and give pedometers to their team members. The team members were to wear their pedometers daily to track their daily steps taken. Some members hit the walking trails, went to the gym, took walks with their families or just recorded steps taken in their day-to-day activities.
Johnston County Health Department and NC Division of Public Health, Nutrition Services Branch provided the pedometers. Teams checked in weekly and charted their progress. Incentives were awarded to weekly team winners and the individual walking the most steps. The Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch and Diabetes Prevention Branch supported this effort by donating incentives such as Eat Smart Move More license plates, frisbees and measuring cups. Nutritious snacks were also provided by the Family Education Service Center. At the end, of the contest the winning team walked 1,107,007 steps. All the teams together walked a total of 4,426,258 steps!
Teams registered and checked in on Wednesday nights, before and after bible study. Sanders feel that the success of the program was due to the flexibility and convenience of the time and location. She also feels the program brought awareness to the importance of being physically active. The participants enjoyed walking and felt better; the competition just made it more fun. One participant said "We worked hard and for good health! Thank you!"
The main goal of the PAN committee continues to be to improve the quality of life for Wesley Chapel’s congregation and community.
The participants continue to be excited and ready for new ideas.
Stepping Stones...
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Competition and teamwork helped make the project a success
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Funding was a challenge
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Get people motivated and excited and they will come back
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Make sure to share responsibilities and keep everyone involved
Contact Information
Name: Shelby Sanders
Title:
PAN Coordinator
Agency: Wesley Chapel AME Church
Address: 867 Cleveland Road
City, State, Zip: Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: 919-934-3752
