Building Healthy Communities- South Kern (BHC-SK) has opened its grant program, which awards up to $500 for projects that aim to improve community health in South Kern.
The fourth cycle of grants will fund health-related activities in the communities of South Kern. Funds can be used for materials or supplies, but may not be used to pay for services or the time it takes to complete the projects.
Some of the past recipients have included Mountain View School. The school got very creative and as a way to move away from unhealthy fund raising practices, the school used the funds to purchase four World Cup jerseys to use as prizes for a raffle fundraiser, which replaced one of their yearly candy sales.
“We raised $2,000 from selling raffle tickets to the students, and we donated that money to the Mountain View Student Body account,” said Manuel Ramirez, the teacher at Mountain View School who applied for the mini grant.
The Greenfield Walking Group has been another grantee, which received funding to purchase two speakers to use at the group’s daily Zumba class at Stiern Park in southeast Bakersfield. Regular Zumba classes are bringing outdoor physical activity opportunities to the residents of Greenfield and inspiring people to get off the couch and move.
Applications can be made by any group of residents, youth, or community partners such as parent groups, groups of neighbors, or others. Groups should be from the communities of Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch, or the unincorporated areas of Greenfield. If you need assistance completing the application, contact Angelica Munoz at (661) 845-2724.
Applications can be found at www.healthysouthkern.org. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., August 11 to 7839 Burgundy Avenue in Lamont.
BHC-SK is a community initiative comprised of over 2,000 residents, youth, businesses and organizations who are working to improve community health and initiate systemic change by moving policies and practices in the areas of education, environment, recreation and health-access in the communities of Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch, and the unincorporated areas of Southeast Bakersfield.
