How to participate
PC(USA) and Let’s Move!
“The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is excited to work with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Initiative because of our commitment to ending childhood poverty, hunger, and obesity,” said Moderator of the 219th General Assembly, Elder Cynthia Bolbach. “We believe that ‘poverty in a world of abundance is an intolerable violation of God's good creation’ and hunger and obesity are symptoms of such poverty. It is our responsibility as individuals, as the church and as a nation to eliminate the root causes of hunger.”
Therefore, the PC(USA) is issuing a challenge for 1,000 congregations to participate this year in activities that will reduce the root causes of hunger and obesity in our communities.
Read more about PC(USA)’s statement on Let’s Move! in the Presbyterian News Service article.
How to participate
When your congregation registers as a Let’s Move! congregation, you can select ways that you are already participating and/or pledge to participate in new ways. It only takes one action to become a Let’s Move! congregation. Congregations can participate in many ways from gardening, to nutrition classes, to healthy feeding programs. Choose from a list on the sign up form [link to Sign Up].
It is not necessary for your church Session or Mission Committee to officially approve the Let’s Move! iniative for your congregation. However if you do wish to do so, you can use this sample resolution [link to attached word doc] for your Session, Mission Committee or Pastor to approve and sign.
Once you fill out the sign up form, you will receive periodic emails with ideas for action, success stories and more. You will also be invited to join an interactive group website so that you can share your thoughts, stories, photos and more with congregations all accross the United States that are working on Let’s Move! and other Food Justice issues.
Contact the Presbyterian Hunger Program for more information or questions.
More About the Let’s Move! Campaign
Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by First Lady Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.
Let’s Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years; giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices; providing healthier foods in our schools; ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food; and helping children become more physically active.
The five pillars of the Let’s Move! initiative are:
1. Creating a healthy start for children
2. Empowering parents and caregivers
3. Providing healthy food in schools
4. Improving access to healthy, affordable foods
5. Increasing physical activity
For more background information about Let’s Move!, visit the Let's Move website.
