Health

Note: I wanted to share with you that at the Food Stamp Conference for World Food Day yesterday, Mayor Nutter, took the opportunity to discuss how important it is that our children get decent food at schools, as this is where they are getting much of their meals. (This was slightly off topic, but I was glad to hear the Mayor speak of it.) Wayne Grasela was there too. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization funding discussion will be taking place in the next year, and it important that we all advocate for more funding and the changes we want. As I hear more about it and what we can do, I will let you know. Robin
 * Subject: School Food,** health news update submitted by Robin Rifkin of the Health Promotion Council

Health Promotion Council 260 S. Broad St. Phila, Pa 19102 215-731-6187

Jeanne Barrett Ortiz, Managing Director FoodRoutes Network PO Box 55 - 35 Apple Lane Arnot, PA 16911 (570) 638-3608 Cell: 215-519-5648 Jeanne@foodroutes.org Link to article  [|http://news.yahoo.com/s/ usnews/20081020/ts_usnews/ 10thingsthefoodindustrydoesntw antyoutoknow] [| http://www.philly.com/ inquirer/front_page/20081022_ USDA_to_kill_Phila__school_ lunch_program.html] Submitted by Jeanne Barrett Ortiz, Managing Director FoodRoutes Network
 * 10 Things the Food Industry Doesn't Want You to Know**, article submitted by
 * USDA to kill Phila. School Lunch Program, read this article, very important!**

Submitted by Cecelia Thompson
 * Methylmercury Warning, read this article, very important!** ScieneDaily Oct.30, 2008 http://sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081028103103.htm


 * Healthy Schools**


 * National Gardening Association & Home Depot 2009 Youth Garden Grants Program** - Applications due November 1. [|http://www.kidsgardening.org/ YGG.asp] The National Gardening Association (NGA) has announced that Home Depot will return as the Youth Garden Grants sponsor for 2009. NGA awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. 125 grants are available for the 2009 grant cycle, which include gift cards for supply purchases at Home Depot.


 * Support for K-6 Healthy Food Programs.** Love Your Veggies Grant Program[|] Click here for more information. **Online applications must be submitted by** **November 7, 2008**. Detailed application guidelines are available on the website listed above.


 * Seeds for Education Grant Program** - Applications due November 15. [|http://www.for-wild.org/ sfecvr.html] Wild Ones is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the use of natural landscaping with native plant species as an ecologically better alternative to traditional landscaping practices. Wild Ones Seeds for Education program offers small grants to schools, nature centers, and other educational not-for-profits to landscape with native plants.


 * Win a "Green Computer Lab" for Your School** Inspire your middle and high school students to be leaders in the Green Schools movement- and your school could win a state-of-the art computer lab. Application deadline December 1 . Click here for more information.


 * Increase Your Green School Competition**- Applications due December 15. [|http://www.dosomething.org/ increaseyourgreen] DoSomething.org is calling on students to green their schools. Students who make the biggest effort to reduce their school's carbon footprint this fall could win up to $1,500 to further their efforts. Schools are eligible for a first-place prize of a $1,5000 grant, banner, plaque, and eco-friendly gift bags (up to thirty), and a chance to be visited by the biotour bus! Three $500 second place prizes will also be awarded.


 * National Middle School Sustainability Challenge** Middle school students across the United States are invited to submit their solutions to environmental problems in their communities for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, a national sustainability education initiative. Deadline March 15, 2009 http://updates.phennd.org/2008/10/national-middle-school-sustainability-challenge/


 * Eagles Youth Partnership**, through their Eye Mobile, provides FREE eye exams for students. Contact your school nurse if you are interested in bringing the eye mobile to your school. Check the information at [|www.phillyhsc.org].


 * Healthcare Children's Foundation** Children who have medical needs are sometimes not insured comprehensively to provide coverage for all of their medical treatments. **//The United Healthcare Children's Foundation//** (UHCCF)provides grants to families to help pay for child health care services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.Click here for more inofrmation.