Breaking Ground: Northampton County School District Fosters Nutrition Access with Health Fair and Community Garden

Food and nutrition insecurity is a “critical child health issue that impacts millions of infants, children, youth, and families in communities across the country,” says the USDA and American Academy of Pediatrics. 

To address this issue in North Carolina, Healthier Generation has partnered with Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare organization committed to driving change for better health. The goal of the Healthier Generation, Healthier North Carolina initiative is to support community-driven solutions to chronic disease prevention in rural communities, while building partnerships to expand food access for students and their caregivers.

In May 2024, Northampton County Schools and Healthier Generation teamed up to host the We F.E.E.D. (Food, Empowerment, Education, Direction) Health Fair at Central Elementary School in Jackson, N.C.

“Having events on school property provides families and students with easy access to resources to support their health and well-being. When schools are the hub for the community, students can strive and find assistance quicker,” says Shahnee Thompson, project manager with Healthier Generation.

The goals for the F.E.E.D. Health Fair were to:

• Provide families with recipes and free healthy food like fresh vegetables, eggs, honey, grain, and herbs, provided by A Better Chance A Better Community.
• Amplify the school district’s community garden goals and inform attendees about the importance of healthy eating.
• Engage attendees in physical fitness activities.
• Offer opportunities for attendees to learn from dental health professionals, food access agencies, government assistance programs, and the parks and recreation department.

The fair included a groundbreaking ceremony for the Northampton County Schools Community Garden, which will serve as an interactive, educational space where students, staff, caregivers, and the community can collaborate to nurture crops. The NC Cooperative Extension, Healthier Generation, and Northampton County Schools helped to facilitate and contribute to the groundbreaking ceremony.

“It’s been a yearlong journey and we’re very excited for this opportunity for our schools, our students and our community,” says Sherita Cobb, executive director of student support services with Northampton County Schools. 

“Community gardens provide healthier options for the schools and community, as well as education around healthy cooking and how to grow and maintain gardens.”

More benefits of community gardens include access to locally grown produce, community beautification, increased fruit and vegetable intake, and a greater sense of community. 

“The district’s School Health Advisory Council produced a creative way to bring students, families, staff, and community partners together for an engaging and educational day,” Shahnee says. “The district genuinely cares for their students, families, and staff.”

In a post-event survey, 100% of participants said they would like this event to be hosted again in the future. “Attendees said they had a great experience, loved the interactions with the vendors, and were very appreciative for the food items provided,” Sherita says.

The health fair has exceeded Sherita’s expectations. “The support from Shahnee and Healthier Generation has been outstanding,” Sherita says. “This has been an exceptional addition to our community partnerships, and we are happy continue our work together.”