Play kits distributed to kickoff National Summer Learning Week
Healthi Kids, Department of Recreation and Youth Services (DRYS), City of Rochester, Greater Rochester After-School and Summer Alliance (GRASSA) and Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association (GRSLA) came together to promote the power of play during National Summer Learning Week (July 6 - 11) with a play kit giveaway. The goal is to ensure that kids have access to programs and activities throughout the summer. Play kit distribution began on July 6, 2020 at the City's R-Centers meal distribution sites and through neighborhood groups until supplies last. Healthi Kids and the PlayROCs Advocacy Committee will continue the #playrocsathome social media campaign that challenges families to post a picture or video of how they are playing at home. Learn more.
Summer grab-and-go meals are available
The Summer Meals program is a partnership between the City of Rochester, Rochester City School District and Foodlink. The program offers free breakfast and lunch pick-ups for children 18 and under as a grab-and-go model to leave room for social distancing. In neighborhoods without a nearby site, Summer Meals on Wheels RTS buses are driving through the city delivering grab-and-go meals. For a list of sites and times, visit www.summermealsroc.org.
Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge grant awarded in Rochester
Common Ground Health, Foodlink and the City of Rochester have been selected to receive a $100,000 grant as part of the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge. The primary focus of the grant is the creation of a food policy council. The goal of the food policy council is to identify gaps in and opportunities to expand equitable access to quality food. Learn more about the challenge here.
Celebrate Park & Recreation Professionals Day: DRYS
In honor of Park & Recreation Professionals Day (July 17), we celebrate the Department of Recreation and Youth Services staff (DRYS). Throughout the spring and summer, they've worked to provide access to healthy food and teach gardening tips to kids. When COVID-19 hit, DRYS staff hit the ground running to ensure kids still had access to free breakfast, lunch and dinners despite the school closures. The Rec on the Move staff rose to the occasion in this pandemic, partnering with Healthi Kids to disseminate over 3,000 play kits across the City of Rochester.
DRYS is also keeping everyone moving by ensuring their facilities are up to par so kids can still engage in recreation safely during the pandemic. Thank you to DRYS for all of the work you do to support kids and neighbors across the city! Learn more here.
G2 launches Please Play Campaign
Generation Two (G2) has launched the Please Play Campaign to educate the public on the significance and value of child-directed play. Learn more.
What we're reading:
Overcoming challenges resulting from COVID-19: New York State's Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Initiative, which was published on July 9, 2020 in the Preventing Chronic Disease journal as part of the U.S. Public Health Response to COVID-19 and Chronic Disease special supplement. The article mentions Common Ground Health's work in expanding access to public spaces and their importance during a pandemic.
Leveraging the built environment for health equity, a report published on July 14, 2020 by the Urban Institute. The report highlights Common Ground Health's Empire State Trail Health Impact Assessment, Overloaded report and the Healthi Kids whole child health advocacy work.
In the news:
The Chronicle of Social Change In New York, hundreds of 3-year-olds with disabilities are on the brink of losing services
Democrat & Chronicle Foodlink and RTS team up to deliver free meals to kids 'ice cream truck style' Related Spectrum News Fox Rochester Rochester First
13-WHAM Bright spot: Play time
Monroe County COVID-19 resources/requests
United Way of Greater Rochester and Rochester Area Community Foundation have partnered to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations that are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic consequences of the outbreak, community and organizational recovery, and future community emergencies.Learn more about the Community Crisis Fund.
Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative (RMAPI) is collecting feedback from Rochester and Monroe County community members about how COVID-19 is impacting them and their families. This feedback will be shared with community leaders to inform their work and response efforts. Submit feedback here.
Established by the Rochester Area Community Foundation, the COVID Education Fund will ensure that students get access to essential technology for online learning in order to keep up with school assignments and stave off learning loss while schools remain closed. Learn more and donate here.
The Monroe County public health department and Common Ground Health launched an online survey to track COVID-19 symptoms in the Finger Lakes region. Survey results will help health officials pinpoint "hot spots". Learn more.
