Blender biking: Celebrating health, wellness at Goodwater Youth Development & Rec Center
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Nellie Gadson takes a turn on the blender bike, making a smoothie with her bike pedaling.
The Goodwater Silver Steppers
Gloria Mitchell with the Goodwater Youth Development Center greets attendees and manages the event sign-in process.
Lakita Hawes with the Alabama Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition
Other photos are general event photos and do not have cutline info. Photos submitted
Special to the News
By Dr. Shannon Davis, Coosa County Extension director
Last Thursday, the Goodwater Youth Development Center, under the direction of Sharonna Hayes, in collaboration with the Coosa Extension hosted a community, senior’s health and wellness event.
The event participants were greeted by Gloria Mitchell and assisted by volunteers from the Coosa Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP.
Local vendors in attendance included the Alabama Red Cross, Alabama Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition, Coosa Valley Medical Center, SAFE House Sylacauga, Alabama ONE, Beyond Home Care, Enhabit Home Health & Hospice, Ivy Creek Home Health, Goodwater Senior Center, and the Maxye Veazey Senior Activity Center of Sylacauga.
Coosa Extension agents with SNAP-Ed, EFNEP, 4-H, Health & Wellness, and Food Safety-Preservation programs provided attendees with wellness information and opportunities to sample healthy fresh fruit waters and to select free seed packs for home gardening.
The 36-foot Urban SNAP-Ed Mobile Nutrition Lab featured an interactive demonstration that encouraged healthy eating and physical activity.
The blender bike activity teaches how to make healthy smoothies. Then the participants get to blend the smoothie using a blender operated by their bike pedaling. The senior group from the Maxye Veazey Senior Activity Center made their own strawberry smoothies.
The event also featured a dance work-out led by the Goodwater Sliver Steppers, rounds of bingo with donated door prizes, a potato relay race, line dancing, and community fellowship.
Dr. Shannon Davis, the director of the Coosa Extension, stated that the event was well received by participants.
She said, “It is through community organizations such as those here at our event today, along with centers like the Goodwater Youth & Recreational Center, that truly make a difference within our communities at the grassroots level. These groups interact with local residents on a daily basis, providing the support and activities necessary for long-term impact on resident’s health and quality of life.”
If you would like to feature the Urban Mobile Lab at your community event, would like more information about Extension programs, or have community needs, please reach out to Davis at the Coosa Extension office at 256-377-4713.
