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The ADVANCE, August 31, 2022/Page 2A (Eift Aiiuancg -j/ur Pinthlii NUTRITION AND WELLNESS GRANT — Vidalia High School received a $4,990 grant for its Consumer Science courses. L to R: VHS Consumer Science Teacher Amanda Mosley; VHS Assistant Principal Eric McDonald; VHS Teacher Amy Gilles; Rural Health Works, Inc,/Community Health Works Director of Programs Ursula Spence. VHS Nutrition/Wellness Class Receives Grant By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com The Vidalia High School (VHS) Food Nutrition and Wellness Class has been awarded a $4,990 grant from Rural Health Works, Inc./Com munity Health Works in Macon. Consumer Science Instructor Amanda Mose- ly has been teaching the subject for three years and said that the money received in this grant will be used to create a class room environment that provides hands-on experi ences and individualized knowledge about each student’s overall health and fitness. “Upon completion of my first year in this posi tion, I realized that a large number of high school students do not put much thought into what they eat, or prioritize their physical fitness,” she ex plained. “For most of my students, food choice is heavily reliant on con venience and price. This grant will enhance my curriculum and students’ knowledge of their overall wellness and physical fit ness.” Mosely previously ap plied for two mini-grants in November with the help of Ursula Spence, Director of Programs for the Rural Health Works, Inc./Community Health Works. She received the first of these mini-grants, which totaled $450, over the summer and used the funding for the class garden. Mosely says that Spence reached out to her later in the summer to let her know her sec ond grant for $4,990 had been approved. This grant is being used to purchase equipment and products geared to promote healthy nutrition and exercise taught in two of the sub ject’s classes. Each semester, 35 stu dents participate in each of the 2 classes within the subject area, which focus on exercise and nutrition through various eras of life. L to R: Jeffrey Harden, STC President Larry Calhoun, and Brandon Boston. First Meeting for Two New STC Board Members Two new Board of Di rectors members attended their first Southeastern Technical College (STC) board meeting last week. Brandon Boston, J.D. Dickerson Primary School Principal, joins the board as representation for Toombs County. Boston moved to Toombs County in 2014 and has spent the last seven years working with Vidalia City Schools. “I look forward to serv ing on the board and help ing the community,” said Boston. Jeffrey Harden, Chief Nursing Officer at Memo rial Health Meadows Hos pital for the last five years, will represent Toombs County. “Our hospital has had a close relationship with Southeastern Tech for many years and we value the education Southeast ern provides,” said Harden. Board members are se lected from a wide variety of occupations, businesses, schools, and industries across STC’s service area of eight counties to have in put from all communities. The new members will be sworn in during the September board meet ing. They will also attend the upcoming Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Leadership Con ference in Savannah, where they will attend the Techni cal College Directors Asso ciation (TCDA) session to further orient themselves with the latest updates and offerings of technical edu cation. The TCDA work shops during the two-day conference will earn them board certification. For more informa tion on STC, visit www. southeastemtech.edu or call (912) 538-3100 (Vi dalia) or (478) 289-2200 (Swainsboro). Altamaha Down Syndrome Society To Host Area’s First Buddy Walk Photo by Makaylee Randolph INSPIRED BY HER DAUGHTER — Altamaha Down Syn drome Society Founder Stacie Randolph, above, said she was inspired to create the organization in honor of her daughter, Brantley Grace, shown in Stacie's lap, who has Down Syndrome, but the group is designed to sup port all special needs individuals within the area. The Altamaha Down Syndrome Society will be hosting its first official event on Saturday, Octo ber 1, as the group holds a Buddy Walk for All Spe cial Needs individuals. The walk will begin on the Montgomery County Courthouse Square in Mount Vernon. “A Buddy Walk is ba sically an event for every one to come together and show their support for the special needs communi ty,” ADSS Founder Stacie Randolph explained. “It really unites everyone and reminds us that differenc es aren’t something to be afraid of.” Randolph began the organization alongside her daughter Makaylee and other parents of children with Special Needs last fall after discovering that there was not a very active organization for these in dividuals in the area. “I have become a huge advocate for the special needs community after my youngest daughter Brant ley Grace was born with Down Syndrome,” she re marked. “For the past sev eral years, we have loaded up and attended Buddy Walks and events for the special needs community in places like Savannah. I thought it was time that we have that kind of sup port and advocacy here in our own backyard.” She also shared that though the name of the organization refers to Down Syndrome, the group is focused on help ing individuals with all sorts of special needs. “We named it the Altamaha Down Syndrome Society after being inspired to ad vocate for this population through Brantley Grace,” Randolph added. “How ever, this community is small, so we want to make sure that all special needs are included.” Currently, the ADSS is working to raise funds to be able to provide these individuals with opportu nities they may not other wise have. “A lot of times, these kids are limited in their activities because of things like sensory is sues,” Randolph said. “We want to be able to rent out places, like movie theatres or roller-skating rinks, so that we can help to tune down the sensory overload and allow these people to bond and enjoy activities. We also want to provide resources to doc tor’s offices so that when a child is diagnosed with special needs or a preg nant woman finds out her unborn baby may have special needs, they have an experienced parent to talk to.” The group is hold ing this Buddy Walk as a part of that fundraising and plans to also use it as an opportunity to bring the community together. “We are so excited about October 1,” Randolph em phasized. “It’s going to be a great time to meet new friends and bond, as well as enjoy some fun activi ties.” She said the event will begin with an Open ing Ceremony and 1-mile walk to the festival area, where participants can shop from vendors, enjoy kids’ activities, and fellow ship. For more informa tion on the Buddy Walk for All Special Needs, visit the Altamaha Down Syn drome Society Facebook page, or contact Randolph at (912) 253-3356. The event is currently accept ing registration for ven dors, sponsors, volunteers, and participants. CLOSING SALE EVERYTHING MUST GO SAVE UP TO r o OFF STORE WIDE GREAT FURNITURE 500 E. FIRST ST. 912.403.3238