The third Family Fun Night of the new year took place at St. Michael School on March 9, 2017. Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard welcomed 173 parents and children to participate in a program that engages them in some healthy movement while learning about nutrition and a range of community resources that they can access to maintain or improve their health. Participants were offered sessions on healthier snacks and one on moving to music with Mike and Suzanne Ramos. Participants also had the opportunity to speak with representatives of a dozen agencies including the  Bristol County District Attorney's Office, DCF Foster Parenting, Family Service Association, Katie Brown Education Program, New York Life Insurance, People Incorporated, Road to Healing, Saint Anne' Hospital, Samaritans, Southcoast Health, WIC, and Partners for a Healthier Community covering its Soda-Free Challenge. Click here for a 23-minute video of the event. Click here for an earlier event at the Greene Elementary School. For more information, contact School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard at 774-319-0107.

(Top row) Parents and children check in at St. Michael School with Michelle Baker and Oriana Casimiro before Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard welcomes them to their first Family Fun Night. (Row two) Mike and Suzanne Ramos lead each of three groups in fun movement to music. (Row three) United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director Wendy Garf-Lipp compares the level of sugar in many commercial products compared with what can be made inexpensively at home that contains almost no sugar. (Row four) Lisa Alves of the Fall River WIC Program talks with Jessica Berube and her one-year-old daughter, Avarie, while others check out the Samaritans and the Road to Healing tables. (Row five) Eric Poulin of the Bristol County District Attorney's Office answers questions about the prescription medication take-back program while others check out the People Incorporated and the New York Life Insurance tables. (Row six) Partners Outreach Manager Jack Shipley talks with parents and children about cutting back on sugar-sweetened beverages and drinking whole milk. (Bottom row) School Health Coordinator Michelle Baker and parent volunteer Doriana Casimiro assist Marcia Picard with selecting the ten door prize winners who each received a bag of groceries provided by the Fall River Women's Union.