Special to The Daily Herald
GARYSBURG — The Garysburg Good Food Good Living Project held a lively and fun-filled Community Celebration on March 28 at Town Hall.
It was the culmination of seven months of physical fitness, nutritional and wellness activities. The event was attended by many citizens and former youth campers. The project was funded through a grant received from The Conservation Fund Resourceful Communities of Chapel Hill and implemented by the Gregory B. Davis Foundation in partnership with the Town of Garysburg. The project began with a week-long camp which was attended by about 35 children ages 8-14, followed by monthly health and wellness activities.
The celebration recognized and thanked the community partners, sponsors, youth leaders, youth volunteers and presenters. Among the presenters recognized were Julius Tillery of The Conservation Fund, Tammy Vincent of the Northampton County Extension Office and LaVontae Wilson, a fitness and line dance instructor. Key community partners included The Conservation Fund Resourceful Communities and the Northampton County Home Extension Office. The project has been fortunate to have several sponsors including Roanoke Salem Baptist Church, John B. Sanfillippo, Logan’s Roadhouse, Jean R. Sykes and the Garysburg Volunteer Public Library. One of the highlights of the celebration was a line dance demonstration by Wilson who was quickly joined on the floor by many attendees. Also, there were beautiful songs presented by Stevee Scott and Sharon Peele and one of the youth volunteers, Andrew Clements, played an awesome saxophone.
Audrey Hardy, who serves on the GBDF Board of Directors, spoke on behalf of the Foundation and on its commitment to eliminating health disparities. Commissioner Fannie P. Greene, chairwoman of the Northampton County Board of Commissioners, addressed the group and spoke on how activities of this type help to improve the health of the citizens of Northampton County. Mayor Roy Bell thanked GBDF and The Conservation Fund for making the GFGL Project possible and hoped to be able to have more activities of this nature in Garysburg.
The event was topped off by a delicious healthy meal prepared by the Project Coordinator Jeraldine Brooks. “Healthy food can be good and good living and can be fun,” as shared by the Project Assistant Diane Gallimore.
For more information about the Good Food Good Living Project, call 252-536-3799. Visit www.gbdf.org to learn more about GBDF.