Iredell County Health Department issued the following announcement on Apr. 4.
To make an impact on public health in your community, you can join a community garden, donate healthy and culturally appropriate canned food options to food pantries or volunteer at local food distributions. Support community-led solutions by asking questions at public forums or joining a community advisory board.
People with greater feelings of support and inclusion within their networks may live longer, respond better to stress and have stronger immune systems than those who are isolated from their communities. However, research also shows that cross-sector efforts are needed to redesign the conditions of our social, built and natural environments to promote health equity and improve social determinants of health.
Neighborhood programs like community gardens not only improve access to nutritious foods, but they also cultivate social support and emotional well-being. Adding elements such as sidewalks, parks, libraries or bike routes to neighborhoods supports physical activity, decreases the negative health effects of air pollution and fosters a sense of community belonging. Local efforts must improve housing, education, food, transportation and the environment to support equity, resilience and health at the individual and community levels.
Image Description: Title text reads “Impact Public Health in Your Community.” Subheading text reads “National Public Health Week” Directly underneath the subheading is the Iredell County Health Department Logo. At the bottom of the image, there is a diverse group of illustrated people. At the bottom center there is text in small font that reads “Iredell County Health Department does not discriminate against any individual based on religion, race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex, in employment or the provision of services. 04/2022”
Original source can be found here.
Source: Iredell County Health Department
