Cherokee was selected to be a part of the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! program in 2019. For its second year in the program, Cherokee received $10,000 in funding to implement initiatives and activities that promote the 5-2-1-0 principles. The goals of this program include increasing children’s physical activity and access to healthy eating through policy and environmental change. One of the projects completed this past year was a partnership between the Cherokee Community School District and Hy-Vee. They worked together to develop raised garden beds between their two buildings. SIMPCO assisted the city in writing and administering this award-winning grant.
Hy-Vee food store partnered with the Cherokee Community School District to improve the Community’s environment and access to fresh fruits and vegetables by implementing a garden that will be located on Hy-Vee property. Hy-Vee staff selected school staff and children from grades K-12 to build, plant, and harvest the garden. The high school shop classes built and installed raised garden beds. Produce will be used for nutrition education purposes within the school system as well as donated to local food pantries and the community farmer’s market. A ribbon-cutting for the community garden was held on May 21, 2021. The garden has picnic tables to host outdoor classrooms, and kids will be able to work in the garden growing their own fruits & vegetables.