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Today, we need your HELP!

Your donation will support our life-changing programs for children and families held throughout Monterey County. Be part of the HELP family. Be part of the solution.

“Growing Healthy Communities” Annual Program Sponsor:

All donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

Sponsor 8-week After School Program $3200

This program is offered to students in the 3rd to 5th grade in Monterey County School Districts. Divided into three components, the first incorporates a variety of hands-on activities which teach students the importance of eating a balanced diet, ways to make healthy food choices, and how to make their own healthy snacks and meals.

The second component focuses on presenting positive experiences with physical activity and is based on the National Association of Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) standards. Students also learn the importance of physical activity, nutrition, and healthy eating through weekly physical activity sessions that include mini health classes.

The third component provides nutrition education through the garden experience. Instructors work with the students once a week to teach the importance of the up-keep of the garden and the nutritional benefits of the items being grown.

Sponsor Early Childhood Program - 8 sessions on fruits & veggies - $3520

This early childhood nutrition program is referred to as Fruits & Veggies 101, and it incorporates several learning mediums. It introduces children age 3 to 5 enrolled in Head Start or Pre-School to the healthy and FUN world of produce with a delicious, hands-on program that takes children from "yuck" to "yum" while teaching healthy eating habits. These lessons occur once a week for a four-week series including one parent education meeting and one teacher-training session where they are given lesson plans to enable them to continue nutrition education as part of the children's regular curriculum. Each class teaches children about the origins and growing processes of Monterey County produce. Children receive produce samples and simple cooking lessons in which they actively participate, such as making a fresh salad, fruit smoothie, or applesauce.

HELP is hoping to expand this program and offer gardening as a second phase with additional funding.

Sponsor Parent Education Classes - 2 hour session - $325

HELP has expanded the Parent Nutition Education to other venues, such as the Boys and Girls Club, Mothers of Pre-Schoolers, parent clubs at various schools, and migrant family programs. The classes encourage parents to read nutrition labels, understand various serving sizes, and increase fun physical activity. Our parent educators present information in a discussion format followed by 45 minutes of physical activity. Each class focuses on a new topic that always expands on the lesson taught the week prior. These 4-week sessions conclude with hands on cooking demo and surveys to gauge parent understanding of the information and satisfaction with the ways it was presented.

Sponsor Teacher In-Service - 2 hour session - $325

Sponsor Cooking Demonstrations - $440

Live cooking demos and produce sampling in local farmers markets, schools, clubs, parent clubs, community health fairs and specail events. HELP recipes are featured in each issue of Central Coast Parent Magazine and utilized at Salinas Valley Memorail Hospital's cafeteria and patient meals. Recipes are on the HELP web site in both English and Spanish.

Sponsor Family Nights - 4 sessions - $2667

Family nights increase healthy eating and physical activity by bringing both parents and children together for nutrition education sessions with hands-on activities. These classes focus on specific themes, such as "Let's go to the Market", "Healthy Parties", "Eat Your Rainbow", and "Healthy Eating Lifestyle Principles- Help Choose Your Life!" Each theme has a specific curriculum where parent and child learn the importance of healthy eating. They are shown how to incorporate what they have learned in their everyday grocery buying and meal preparation.

The teachers facilitate parent discussions that underscore the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables while participating in regular physical activity. Parents also learn strategies to overcome barriers or challenges in getting their children to eat a variety of produce. The children are taught about seasonal fruits and vegetables, label reading and product content, as well as the benefits of eating a rainbow of fresh produce. The children and parents are able to prepare and taste varioius healthy snacks, smoothies, and salads.

The HELP teaching staff help parents and children explore convenient family physical activities and various ways of how to "move and groove together". Families are taught that healthy eating goes hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle.

Sponsor General Operations -

- Colleagues $100 to $999
- Partners $1,000 to $2,999
- Leaders $3,000 to $9,999
- Champions $10,000 to $24,999
- Pioneers $25,000 to $39,000
- Visionaries $40,000 and above

All donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

Contact US for a personal meeting and corporate overview.
Call (831) 372-3616, or send your contribution today to Healthy Eating Lifestyle, 2600 Garden Rd., Suite 123, Monterey, CA 93940

Thank you for your consideration.
Basil Mills, Chairman/Founder,
Suzanne du Verrier/Executive Director,
HELP Board of Directors.