MaineHealth boosts kids’ health programs with $200K donation from Hannaford

NORWAY, Maine — Amidst the uncertainty about healthcare cuts in Maine, one major health system is expanding tools to help children develop healthy habits over their lifetimes.

Hannaford Supermarkets has donated $200,000 to MaineHealth’s “Let’s Go!” program. 

The money will provide more programs to encourage youngsters to get active. Over the years, the program has improved energy and mental health and decreased childhood diabetes.

Bright Bodies is a 12-week program that utilizes the “Smart Moves” curriculum, developed at Yale Medical Center. Twice a week, this group of kids ages 6 to 13 comes together to move their bodies.

Children at risk for obesity from the Greater Norway area and their families learn about nutrition, staying active, and other behaviors that promote self-esteem. 

“We can talk with kids and parents about nutrition information and how to implement it at home. These are skills they can learn now and continue throughout their lives,” Alynson Poland, the Bright Bodies program coordinator, explained.

Eleven-year-old Marilyn Hawes lives on a farm in Sumner, a 40-minute drive from Norway. Since the COVID lockdown, she has struggled to limit screen time and spend more time outdoors. The 5th grader also had some unhealthy eating habits, but is on a new track after learning how to make positive changes to her diet.

“Now I am finding I am liking other foods, other than fast food. Are they healthy foods? Yes!” Marilyn exclaimed with a smile.

“There are always plenty of farm chores to do, and we negotiate those a lot smoother with her being more active and putting in the effort,” Christine Hayes, Marilyn’s mom, explained.

The two-year-old program is affiliated with the Let’s Go! program, developed by MaineHealth. 

The Let’s Go 5-2-1-0 program offers guidance and programming for schools, childcare centers, out-of-school programs, healthcare practices, and community organizations. Thanks to the $200,000 donation from Hannaford Supermarkets, within the next year, Bright Bodies will be available virtually across the MaineHealth system. 

Other money will develop more healthy lifestyle programs at dozens of partner sites. The evidence-based program is also helping lower the childhood obesity rate among MaineHealth patients.

“We are seeing some positive trends with obesity rates, and I think the more we have partnerships with organizations like Hannaford, promoting shared messages, we will make some inroads in these overall behaviors,” Emily Walters, the director of Let’s Go!, said.

As for Marilyn, she will plant vegetables of her choosing this spring, habits she believes will remain through adulthood.

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