Our History
Live Healthy Red Wing began in the fall of 2008, when the Red Wing Family YMCA received a community grant through the YMCA of the USA’s Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative. This initiative, which aims to lower childhood obesity and its resulting chronic illnesses in cities across the country, was federally funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
From 2009 to 2011, LHRW made the following advancements:
- Initiated Food Rescue partnership.
Econofoods now donates fresh fruits and vegetables every day to students at the Red Wing High School. Utilizing the school district courier and van, the program requires no volunteers or extra funds. The rescued fresh fruits and vegetables feed an average of 300 students per day.
- Enhanced walkability/bikability.
Implemented a Trails to Downtown project that provided signs and street markings connecting the Cannon Valley Trail and Hay Creek Trail to each other and to downtown.
- Funded Complete Streets design consultant to help redesign major downtown intersections so busy and dangerous crossings are safer and more pleasant for bicyclists and pedestrians (work by MnDot begins 2014).
- Offered hub for information.
Web site provides Red Wing’s only place for comprehensive information on healthy eating and getting active locally.
- Increased student walking/biking.
Worked with Sunnyside School to spearhead K-2 walking-to-school program called Sunnyside Sneakers Walking Wednesdays. Program helped quintuple the number of walkers and bikers in its first year.
- Expanded activity/nutrition in classrooms.
Partnered with school district to developed stronger vending, snack, and birthday treat guidelines for all schools. Provided Energizers to K-5 classes, nutrition curriculum to Sunnyside K-2, and stability balls to first graders.
- Started culture change.
Led citywide book read that ranks as most successful in RW library’s history. Free Range Kids advocated for giving children more freedom to be active outdoors.
- Advanced worksite awareness.
Organized wellness forums that educated 70 local employers and HR managers on creative ways to get employees more active and healthy.
- Broadened access to fresh food.
Paved way for Farmers’ Market satellite sites. Provided fencing for two community gardens with 74 plots.
In 2011, LHRW decided to refocus its work and reach out to involve the whole community. Today, the work is being funded primarily by local organizations, businesses, and foundations. Click here to learn more about LHRW's three-year plan for 2011 to 2014: