Coolville residents invited to make a difference, be healthy

 (ATHENS, Ohio – Oct. 19, 2012) Coolville area residents are invited to participate in an afternoon of fun and learning to make a difference for their neighbors and community.

Twenty members of ComCorps, an AmeriCorps program administered by the Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM), will host Coolville Healthy Harvest, an event at Coolville Elementary School on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as part of this year’s “Make a Difference Day.”

“Make a Difference Day” is a national day of community service and volunteerism that takes place on the fourth Saturday in October each year, and encourages individuals to seek opportunities to serve their communities.

At the Coolville Healthy Harvest, families and individuals will be able to participate in cooking demonstrations featuring fall vegetables, healthy adult screenings, and discover community resources while enjoying live music, food, and fun children’s activities.

Community groups such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Community Food Initiatives also will be at the event to share information and promote volunteer opportunities for Coolville residents. 

The event is also intended to promote the ComCorps mission to address childhood obesity through nutrition education, increasing access to healthy fresh food, and services that provide preventive health care and primary health services.  ComCorps/AmeriCorps members are paired with local agencies that provide services to prevent disease, promote health and wellness, and improve visibility of medical programs.  

This year’s Make A Difference Day event will be a collaborative effort between ComCorps and area agencies that include the Coolville Elementary PTO, Live Healthy Appalachia, OU-HCOM, Second Harvest Food Banks, and the Hocking, Athens, Perry Community Action Agency.

For information about this event, or about the ComCorps program, contact Lauren Borovicka, program coordinator at 740.593.2293 or borovicka@oucom.ohiou.edu.

ComCorps is funded by ServeOhio, Ohio’s commission on service and volunteerism.