Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan

CITY/COUNTY: Niles, MI/Cass, Berrien & Van Buren Counties

ISSUE AREA: Health - Childhood Obesity

SUMMARY:
The Health Department and the Healthy Berrien Consortium established the We Can Berrien Initiative to address the critical community issue of childhood obesity. Since 1997, the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan has worked in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties to promote, support and connect volunteers working to build a strong, caring community.

All partners would agree they underutilize volunteers and have more to learn about volunteer management. By accepting the challenge of the Volunteer MI grant, they have reviewed and endorsed the opportunity to greatly expand how they utilize volunteers to address the health issue of childhood obesity. Partners expressed that they will utilize this grant as an opportunity to build a case for greater resource support of volunteers.

We Can offers science based programming focused on reaching parents and caregivers with educational materials to encourage healthy eating, increased physical activity and reduced sedentary time. The We Can Berrien Initiative includes the coordination of any and all community events promoting healthy lifestyles. 20 community partners were involved in developing the original mission and objectives.

CONTACT: Doris Higgins
210 E. Main St.
Suite 237
Niles, MI 49120
(269) 683-5464
director@volunteerswmi.org

For more information on the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, visit http://www.volunteerswmi.org .