5 Healthy Towns investing in Acorn Farmers Market, a summer kids camp & more!

submitted by Matt Pegouskie, 5 Healthy Towns Foundation

5 Healthy Towns Foundation (5HF) Board of Directors recently approved Manchester Wellness Coalition (MWC)’s eighth Comprehensive Wellness Plan. A total of 11 interventions were approved for funding, addressing a combination of Eating Better, Moving More, Connecting with Others in Healthy Ways and Avoiding Unhealthy Substances.  

MWC’s data review team examined the local health data, surveyed the community and made recommendations to the coalition based on identified needs. In turn, projects meeting the identified needs are included in MWC’s plan.    

MWC is the first coalition to opt in to the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation ‘One Big Thing,’ a budding 5 Healthy Towns Foundation strategy to address one major health need across communities. Manchester’s Wellness Coalition contributed $15,000 from their Year 8 plan. As a result, Manchester received an additional $10,000 for their plan, allowing them $70,000 for interventions. 

The plan includes five repeat interventions – Adaptive Movement ($5,600), Dance Manchester ($2,000), Manchester Farmers Market ($5,000), School and Community Gardens ($900) and SRSLY Manchester ($20,000). Two return after not being included in recent years – Run Manchester ($1,500) and Safe Routes to School ($3,000). Three new interventions were approved for funding Acorn Farmers Market and Café ($25,000), Summer Kids Camp ($6,000) and Manchester Community School’s LINK crew ($1,000). One final intervention – a school garden at Riverside Intermediate School – was approved. Funding comes from a shift of funds from the Year 6 wellness plan.

The largest funding amount is seed money for Acorn Farmers Market and Café.  When Manchester Market closed in early 2019, residents explored different options to provide a regular source of nutritious food, settling on a year round farm stop.  Acorn has requested $25,000 for up front capital costs. 

Following approval of this plan, Manchester’s Wellness Coalition has invested nearly three quarters of a million dollars from 5 Healthy Towns Foundation in wellness activities. The community and her organizations have contributed a great deal of additional funding. The work of the Coalition can be seen all around town. Visit the Farmer’s Market and school gardens. Notice more than a third of the school’s children walking to school or walk on the new shared use trails, yourself. Join the Manchester Wellness Center or just join a walking group that meets at the Wellness Center. Make a personal investment in the Acorn project or dance with friends at Dance Manchester. 

“Acorn Farmers’ Market & Cafe won’t replace the traditional grocery store,” said Coalition member Ruth VanBogelen. “It will provide area residents with food (produce, meat, dairy, etc.) to make healthy homemade meals. Consumers will benefit from higher quality, more nutrient dense food, and local farmers will benefit from increased demand with a high dollar return on their products. Acorn will strive to be a welcoming community gathering spot for conversation and sharing – for all! We are delighted to be included in Manchester’s plan, to receive support from 5 Healthy Towns Foundation and promise to contribute to their mission.” 

5HF is a tax exempt, private foundation representing populations in the school districts of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester and Stockbridge with a mission to cultivate improvements in personal and community wellness.  

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.