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Faith Network Launches WV Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits Month

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In partnership with Try This West Virginia, the West Virginia Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits network held a press conference today to highlight March as “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits” month.

Joshua Sowards, the Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits/Try This coordinator, explains. “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits network is about collaborating on the ground, with projects that are available and resources to get churches and faith-based organizations to help lead the way in making West Virginia healthy,” he says.

At the press conference, representatives from various faith organizations shared initiatives they are offering in the community such as cooking classes, nutrition plans and physical activity groups.

“West Virginia churches and faith-based organizations are powerful centers for change,” he says. “It’s always said that West Virginia is on the buckle of the Bible Belt. And so the church still has a lot of influence.

“If people within the church are on board with taking care of their bodies and being able to serve their communities, then the community will get involved with that automatically because they are such a huge part of what creates the bodies of believers in our congregations.”

The network currently has over 720 members. They hope to double that number by the end of March.

Appalachia Helth News

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.