In June 2017, Live Well Crawford County received a $262,500 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to strengthen community coalitions and address social and economic issues that impact health. Crawford County was one of 18 Kansas communities which took part in this 3.5 year initiative to improve health equity in Kansas.
The focus of this effort involves the identification of a narrowly defined population experiencing negative health outcomes, and creating solutions for a healthier community through resident led community change.
"We believe all Kansans should be able to make healthy choices where they live, work, and play.
This initiative will allow residents to identify obstacles and opportunities for better health outcomes.
Not only does this improve the health for the priority population, but it makes the entire community stronger."
- Steve Coen, Kansas Health Foundation President and CEO
The focus of this effort involves the identification of a narrowly defined population experiencing negative health outcomes, and creating solutions for a healthier community through resident led community change.
"We believe all Kansans should be able to make healthy choices where they live, work, and play.
This initiative will allow residents to identify obstacles and opportunities for better health outcomes.
Not only does this improve the health for the priority population, but it makes the entire community stronger."
- Steve Coen, Kansas Health Foundation President and CEO
* image courtesy of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Population of Focus
- Residents of the rural community of Arma, KS are experiencing an unfair barrier to health.
- The combination of high poverty rates, lower than average median household income levels and Arma's proximity to grocers who supply healthy foods is leading to poor health outcomes for Arma residents.
- These conditions are keeping Arma residents from achieving their full health potential.
Community Engagement
- From November 2018 - February 2019, Live Well facilitated a series of Community Conversations at the Arma City Library.
- These events were used to engage residents affected by poor access to healthy foods and address their concerns.
- Residents' ideas, solutions & priorities were organized in order to implement policy, systems and environmental changes.
- This RESIDENT LED planning work culminated in February when the 50+ community members in attendance voted to start Arma's first community garden with a distribution system at the Arma City Library food pantry.
- In May 2019, Live Well worked with Arma residents to launch and fund Feed Arma, a $9,500 crowdfunding effort through ioby.org, to develop and sustain a community garden project with the potential to impact everyone in their community.
- In July 2019 we broke ground on Arma's first ever community garden and established the library's food pantry.
Members of the resident leadership team met with staff of The Lord's Diner of Pittsburg in early June 2019 about the need for their free evening meals to be distributed in the Arma area. Starting in late June, The Lord's Diner began their outreach program delivered 200+ free meals every Tuesday to Arma which distributed by nutrition council volunteers.
Members of the leadership team also met with staff at Kansas State Research & Extension's Wildcat District about the need for a series of Nutrition Education classes to be held in Arma. Starting in November 2019 a series of once-a-month classes took place at the Arma City Library on topics which were determined by residents such as:
- shopping healthy at Dollar General
- reading food labels
- shopping healthy on a budget
- portion sizing
- knife sharpening
- food preservation methods
- cooking for one person
- how to prepare garden produce
COMMUNMITY GARDEN GROWS 2,000 POUNDS OF FRESH FOOD PER YEAR
ARMA NUTRITION COUNCIL FEATURED IN STATEWIDE NEWSLETTER
INTERNATIONAL GARDENS FOR GOOD GRANT COMPETITION
In April of 2021, Live Well identified a grant competition from Natures Path Organic which would award 21 gardens $5,000 each based on number of votes. A media campaign began to promote the Arma Community Garden's entry into the contest. Ultimately, our project finished 11th place with over 765 votes and was one of the lucky garden projects to be awarded a 2021 prize. Arma (pop 1,400) was the smallest community to ever win this yearly grant competition with over 350 entries from all of North America.
In April of 2021, Live Well identified a grant competition from Natures Path Organic which would award 21 gardens $5,000 each based on number of votes. A media campaign began to promote the Arma Community Garden's entry into the contest. Ultimately, our project finished 11th place with over 765 votes and was one of the lucky garden projects to be awarded a 2021 prize. Arma (pop 1,400) was the smallest community to ever win this yearly grant competition with over 350 entries from all of North America.
HCI Multisector Support Team
Brenda Banks - Resident of Arma, Kansas and the Arma City Library Director
Brad Stroud - Pathways Grant Coordinator & Executive Director, Live Well Crawford County
Chuck Fischer - RTD Professor - Economics, Finance, & Banking Chair, Pittsburg State University
Matt O'Malley - Health Equity Grant Coordinator & Community Liaison, Live Well Crawford County
Brad Stroud - Pathways Grant Coordinator & Executive Director, Live Well Crawford County
Chuck Fischer - RTD Professor - Economics, Finance, & Banking Chair, Pittsburg State University
Matt O'Malley - Health Equity Grant Coordinator & Community Liaison, Live Well Crawford County
