Local Organization Champions Community Well-being Through REACH Grant, Faith-Based Training, a Faith and Health Coalition and Annual Faith Walk.
(SAVANNAH, GA) As many as 33,000 people living in Chatham County (11%) have low incomes and do not live close to a grocery store, limiting their ability to access healthy foods.
In recognition of National Nutrition Month® this March, Healthy Savannah is highlighting its ongoing efforts to support nutrition in priority neighborhoods, expand faith-based training, and address local food insecurity. As a leading advocate for health equity, the organization is striving to provide the resources to help individuals and communities implement this year’s theme, “Discover the Power of Nutrition.”
“Nutrition is at the heart of community health, and with the support of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant, we’re able to collaborate with residents and faith leaders with the tools and knowledge they need,” said Armand Turner, executive director of Healthy Savannah. “Our work is focused on priority areas where healthy options aren’t always accessible. The REACH grant allows us to bridge gaps, build partnerships, and create lasting change.”
One of Healthy Savannah’s most notable programs in this space is the Faith and Health Coalition, a network of faith-based organizations of all faiths which come together to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors in places of worship.
The Coalition meets monthly and hosts an Annual Faith Walk every spring at Lake Mayer Community Park to bring the community together to promote movement and health.
This year’s event is planned for Sunday, May 3, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lake Mayer Community Park, to include a walk around the lake and additional activities promoting health and wellness. Partners include Tide to Town, Forsyth Farmers’ Market and GirlTREK.
Healthy Savannah additionally provides free Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) training to equip church leaders with strategies to promote healthy lifestyles within their congregations. The virtual, 8-week self-paced course provides resources related to healthy eating, physical activity and discusses the importance of health, and provides guidance for creating a successful health ministry. The course was created by the University of South Carolina and is available nationally through the Health Ministries Association (HMA).
Since Healthy Savannah adopted the FAN program training seven years ago, 27 faith communities have completed the training and begun to champion wellness from the pulpit to the pews.
Shirley V. Taylor, a member of St. Philip AME Church on the Blvd, completed FAN training in April 2021. Reflecting on her experience, Taylor shared, “The FAN program opened my eyes to how we can support our members’ health in practical ways. We started a healthy cooking series and added fresh fruits and vegetables to our church events. Our congregation feels more connected, and we’re seeing positive changes every day.”
“The training gave us confidence to address nutrition and wellness as part of our ministry,” said Taylor. “Now, our church is a place where body and spirit are nurtured together.”
FAN-inspired activities at other faith-based organizations that have completed the training include annual health fairs, awareness months (ie heart health month), Zumba, line dancing and other physical activity classes. Churches also offer healthy food items like fruits, water and baked chicken during events.
“Food insecurity remains a concern in the Savannah area, where nearly 13% of people do not have reliable access to food,” said Ruby Castro, Healthy Savannah’s Nutrition Program manager. “Access to healthy food is important for overall health, underscoring the importance of Healthy Savannah’s nutrition initiatives.”
ABOUT NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH®
National Nutrition Month®, held annually in March, is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA / HEALTHY SAVANNAH REACH GRANT
In October 2025, Healthy Savannah announced continued funding of the CDC’s five-year, $3.8 million Racial & Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant, originally endowed in 2023. The funds, administered by Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, support sustainable health equity for racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods, focusing on nutrition, physical activity and breastfeeding. Working with over 200 community partners, the Savannah/Chatham County team is advancing these goals through an “upstream” approach. Founded in 2007, Healthy Savannah was honored in 2022 with the CDC’s REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity. healthysavannah.org | ymcaofcoastalga.org
MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
