Children celebrate 100-mile challenge
Published 11:35 am Tuesday, April 7, 2015
The Get Fit Kidz at Christian Love Center will be marking a milestone for its 100-mile fitness challenge on Thursday.
According to Lawanda Bell, the center’s youth coordinator, Christian Love Center had challenged the children who come to its after school program to walk one mile a day for 100 days.
“The kids come and walk outside of the center, no matter how cold,” Bell said. “These are kids who have toughed it out in spite of the weather.”
Bell said the goal of the fitness challenge was to combat child obesity.
“We want to get kids up and going, away from the Playstations, away from the phones,” she said. “One of the thing I learned is that while walking outside and getting some fresh air, the kids were able to communicate to each other, actually talking and not texting.”
The children also had a chance to walk with student athletes from Troy University as they volunteered at the center, Bell said.
The 100-mile fitness challenge is also a fundraiser for the community youth garden at Christian Love Center as well as for Get Fit Kidz’ activities.
According to Bell, the center has raised about $1,500, and it is still accepting donations.
Christian Love Center will be holding a celebration for the completion of the challenge on Friday. Bell said the event is open to all community members, and there will be games and food.
The Christian Love Center is also planning its Spring Day of Giving this month.
According to Bell, the center has partnered with Plato’s Closet in Montgomery to turn one classroom into a room full of clothes.
“We have clothing items for anyone in need,” Bell said. “Plato’s Closet has generously given us shoes, shirt, church dresses and a lot of baby clothes. We have also got help from Ms. Linda Bolt, who volunteered to sort out the items.”
Moreover, community members in need could call the center to schedule an appointment to come on Tuesdays to their on-site food pantry.
“People coming for the food pantry has been mostly the elderly,” Bell said. “A lot of food is leaving, we are booked until the end of April… This shows that we are meeting a need in the community. We must keep it going.”
Bell said the center is in need of more active volunteers, donors and sponsorship.
“This is not something that happens overnight,” she said. “This is an on going project. In order for us to continue to serve those in need, we need the support form our community.”
The Spring Day of Giving will be open to the public on April 18 from 8 a.m. to noon.