National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

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Published on Thursday, 29 August 2019 13:51

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

One in 3 children in the United States is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were cone seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The good news is that childhood obesity can be prevented. In honor of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, the Andrew County Health Department encourages your family to make healthy changes together.

• Be active outside: Walk around the neighborhood, work in a garden, go on a bike ride, or plan basketball in the park.
• Limit screen time: Keep screen time (time spent on the computer, watching TV, or playing video games) to 2 hours or less a day.
• Eat healthy meals: Buy and serve more vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain foods. Plant a garden.

Taking small steps a family can help your child stay at a healthy weight.

Breastfeeding during infancy can protect a child from becoming obese later in life!

• Breastfeeding protects against excessive weight gain during infancy
• Breastfed babies can regulate their calorie intake better
• Breastfed babies are exposed to many different flavors and are more open to a variety of foods later in life
• Breastfed babies have better intestinal health
• Breastfed babies are better at recognizing and responding to their hunger ad full cues.

Community Food Bank Schedule

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Published on Wednesday, 14 August 2019 08:25

Second Harvest Community Food Bank Schedule

Human Donor Milk Drive

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Published on Thursday, 01 August 2019 13:35

Human Donor Milk Drive at the Andrew County Health Department

A human donor milk drive will be held on August 14, 2019 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, at the Andrew County Health Department.  The Andrew County Health Department is located at 106 N 5th Street in Savannah, MO.

On hand for interviews will be Nicole Parsons, the breastfeeding peer counselor at the Andrew County Health Department, and Elizabeth Bunse, a mother bringing her milk in for donation.

When it comes to feeding babies, nothing is better than mother's milk. Premature or sick babies, who benefit most from mother's milk, are often the ones whose mothers need help supplying this milk. For these babies, pasteurized human milk is far superior to formula, and this is where breastfeeding mothers can help.

Studies show babies receiving donor milk compared to those on formula:

• Were less likely to suffer fatal conditions
• Had much lower rates of infection
• Spent less time in the hospital after birth
• Were more likely to grow and thrive

Breastfeeding mothers can produce far more milk than their baby needs and donating that milk could save the life of a fragile newborn. In fact, about one ounce of human breast milk is enough to feed three NICU infants. It becomes a gift that lasts a lifetime. If you would like to donate your extra breast milk to a baby in need, we can help!

Women interested in starting the milk donor screening process can contact the Heart of America Mother's Milk Bank (HAMMB) via email at kcmilkbank@saint-lukeskc.org.  Once a mother has completed the necessary health screening and is approved to donate milk, she can bring her milk to the human donor milk drive at the Andrew County Health Department. Milk collected locally will be shipped to HAMMB for processing, pasteurization and distribution.

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our Donor Milk Drive on August 14, 2019! We received over 2700 ounces of human breast milk, which covered over 8100 feedings in the NICU! Donating breast milk has such a lasting impact on so many babies. Thank you for all your hard work!

Already a Donor?

Please note:

• Until our freezer comes in, drop off days are Mondays and Wednesdays only, unless they’ve called and spoken with Nicole Parsons and arranged something else
• Call ahead to make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance
• Please have milk divided into Walmart sacks in 100 oz increments.  Each bag should have a notecard placed inside with the following info (and if they need help with any of this, they can wait until they drop off the milk and I’ll help them):
• Name
• Date of donation
• Donor number

For more information about the Heart of America Mother’s Milk Bank and begin your screening process, contact the Milk Bank  at (816) 932-4888 or via email at kcmilkbank@saint-lukes.org.

For more information about the Donor Milk Drive, contact: Nicole Parsons, breastfeeding peer counselor, Mondays and Wednesdays at (816) 324-3139 or via email at nicolep@andrewcountyhealth.com.

Free Lunch for Kids

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Published on Friday, 21 June 2019 10:01

ALL CHILDREN ARE INVITED TO FREE LUNCH

MONDAY - FRIDAY 11:30 - 12:30

JULY 1 - AUGUST 9 (closed July 4)

Savannah United Methodist Church

103 N. 4th St.

NEED A RIDE?

Text 816-390-5414 after June 26

(Please leave name, phone number, number of children and address)