FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2012

Contact
Brandon Meline, Director Maternal & Child Health
(217) 531-4308

Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Growing Your Own Food is a SNAP with Seed and Plant Sales at CUPHD

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is Hosting a Seed and  Plant Sale Day

Champaign, IL –The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be hosting a seed and plant sale for anyone with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign from 1:00 – 5:30 PM, as part of the Farmers’ Market season kick-off.

Seeds will be available for purchase from 10 to 50 cents per package and plants will be available for between $1.00 and $3.50 each, depending on variety. Available plants will include broccoli, peppers and tomatoes (multiple varieties), cucumber, eggplant, strawberry, spaghetti squash, zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet potato and more. These items can be purchased at a much cheaper price than fresh produce. One $3.00 tomato plant can produce up to 10 to 15 pounds of tomatoes whereas you might pay $4.98 for two pounds of tomatoes at a local grocer; one $3.00 seedless watermelon plant can produce multiple watermelons but would cost $6.00 for one watermelon at the grocery store; one $3.00 cucumber plant also produces multiple cucumbers but costs $4.00 for two cucumbers at the store; and six red or yellow peppers could cost $7.00 when purchased at a local grocer.

According to Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal and Child Health at CUPHD, “I believe a majority of SNAP benefit recipients do not know that they can purchase foodproducing plants and seeds with their benefits and this is a great way to increase access to healthy, fresh foods and to increase the amount of food received with each dollar of SNAP benefits. It is not promoted widely because many places such as hardware stores that sell seeds and plants are not SNAP vendors because they do not meet all of the criteria, and many places that meet the criteria do not sell seeds and plants. Luckily, CUPHD is able to offer this service as part of our Farmers’ Market SNAP vendor license.”

This sale will be one day only and leads into the weekly 1:00 – 5:30 PM Tuesday Farmers’ Market at CUPHD, which will begin June 5^th.  SNAP benefits, as well as cash and WIC Farmers’ Market vouchers, are also accepted at these markets, which highlight locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps) helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. The Department of Human Services administers the program in Illinois.

For more information about CUPHD's programs and services, visit us on the web at  www.c-uphd.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2012

Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator (217) 531-531-2914

Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Upcoming Workshop for Women’s Wellness

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Hosts a FREE Women’s Wellness Workshop to Provide Healthy Habit Ideas

Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be hosting a FREE Women’s Wellness Workshop on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 from 5:00 – 9:00 PM (speakers begin at 6:00 PM) at 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. This educational and fun workshop will be geared towards increasing positive healthy habits of women.

“The women of today are busier than ever before and too often women do not realize the strain that they inadvertently place on their health, which may lead to unfortunate consequences in the future,” said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator for CUPHD.  “CUPHD hopes that this Women’s Wellness Workshop will give participants the tools necessary to meet these challenges in a healthy way.”

This workshop will feature vendors focused on women’s health and guest speakers touching on topics including stress management, healthy shopping on a budget, health and organic gardening. In addition, there will be fitness demonstrations, door prizes, light refreshments available and much more.

Guest speakers and topics include:

• Amy Ledbetter, The Frugal Family “Healthy Shopping on a Tight Budget”
• Wendy Starwalt, Carrie Busey “Getting Your Family Healthy So You Can Take Care of You”
• Lisa Braddock “Year Round Organic Gardening”
• Peggy Cler, Body Work Associates “Stress Management & Relief”

Women are encouraged to register for this free event by contacting Nikki Hillier at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 217.531.2914; registration is limited. To view the workshop flyer, visit www.c-uphd.org. This activity is made possible through Illinois General Revenue funding administered through the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women’s Health.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2012

Contact
Melaney Arnold (217) 558-0500
Sabrina L. Miller (312) 814-8194

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

New State Health Director to Meet with Local Officials to Talk About Public Health Vision

Chronic disease prevention is key; proposed cigarette tax will help

SPRINGFIELD – On Monday, May 14, 2012, newly appointed Illinois Department of Public Health Acting Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck will begin convening local health officials in regional roundtables to discuss the public health system in Illinois, where it stands now and where health partners would like to see it go.  The director will share his vision for the future of public health, addressing vulnerable populations, access to health care and chronic disease prevention.  One of the director’s priorities in preventing chronic disease is combating tobacco use and how the proposed cigarette tax can greatly help in this effort.  Hear from state and local health officials as Dr. Hasbrouck tours the state working to improve public health in Illinois.

Additional meetings are being scheduled for the next couple weeks in Cook and the collar counties.

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