Money is Available for Your Community Activity
Creating a support network that promotes a healthy and safe environment for families with small children is one of the primary goals of the First 5 Sacramento Commission. A grant funded by the First 5 Sacramento Commission is helping a group of parents reach this goal while bringing families and community members together in North Highlands.
These parents are building relationships through this project. They have found that by strengthening the relationships and networks within the community they are creating safer and healthier places for their children. They feel connected to one another and are more likely to help each other and share resources and information that are valuable to raising healthy children.
Group: Sacramento Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition
This North Highland’s parents’ group primary focus is to help people develop healthy eating habits that will last throughout their lives. The coalition achieves this goal through a variety of different projects in North Highlands, including in Serna Village. Serna Village serves as the hub for the coalition, providing meeting space for activities such as community meals.
The coalition sponsors weekly or bi-weekly visits for community members to local area farmers’ markets. During these trips, the coalition encourages residents to learn more about the fruits and vegetables available during different times of the year. Community members get to know each other, local farmers, and other groups. Families that were formerly isolated develop relationships with others in their community just like them. In addition, Serna Village’s gardens are cultivated and nurtured by its residents and other families and community members, making it a model for other people in North Highlands.
Meeting Information: The coalition holds a community meeting on the third Thursday of every month at Kaiser Point West (2nd floor). For the latest information on group outings to local farmers’ markets (meeting days/times vary depending upon the season and weather), please contact Olga Lockett by phone (916) 875-2993.Page 2
About First 5 Sacramento Commission’s Grants
The First 5 Sacramento Commission offers community grants through its Community Building Initiative. These grants intend to help recreate a time when neighbors chatted frequently, their children played together every day and support for fellow parents was a natural extension of the lifetime friendships formed within the community.
The First 5 Sacramento Commission provides grants to parents and caregivers with children ages zero to five who want to end their isolation and build and strengthen connections with others in their neighborhood and community. These grants can be used toward a variety of relationship-building and neighborhood networking activities.
Funding for the Community Building Initiative’s grants is provided by the First 5 Sacramento Commission which uses Proposition 10 (tobacco tax) funds to support the healthy development of children ages zero to five.
Grants are available to groups of three or more people. This group – oftentimes simply an informal group of moms – just needs to have an idea for activities that can help develop networks for parents and children. First 5 Sacramento Commission staff members can help grant applicants fully develop their inspirations into full-fledged plans. Examples of grant funded projects include book clubs, monthly art projects and organized playgroups.
Important Dates to Remember
Grant applications are available now. The filing deadline for the upcoming round of applications is Friday, April 4, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. Anyone interested in applying need only live in Sacramento County, form a group with two other like-minded and motivated individuals and have an idea for activities that will serve to strengthen connections with their neighbors. The activities need to provide a benefit to children ages zero to five. The First 5 Sacramento Commission staff will help you through every step of the the grant application process. Interested applicants should call Linda Fong-Somera at (916) 876-7386 or Julie Beyers at (916) 876-6529 for more information.