During the summer, many children don’t receive the healthy meals and physical activity opportunities they enjoy while school is in session. Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital is helping change that.
 
The hospital helps fund the summer meal program and physical activity programming provided by the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County. During the summer of 2023, an average of 400 children per day participated in these programs at eight Boys & Girls Club sites.
 
The successes of these programs were significant:
 

• More than 31,000 free, healthy meals were served, benefiting nearly 1,000 unduplicated youth.
• 53 percent of the participants qualified for the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program, a common indicator of moderate-income to low-income households.
• More than 675 unduplicated (7,780 duplicated) youth ages 6-18 participated in the physical activity programming.
• The physical activity programming included 45-60 minutes of daily activity and utilized the PlayWorks curriculum, an evidenced-based curriculum focused on incorporating social-emotional learning principles into recreational activities.
• The PlayWorks programming supported the children’s physical and mental health by increasing their daily physical activity and providing opportunities to strengthen their social and emotional competencies.

“Aspirus is pleased to support the great strides the Boys & Girls Club is making to nurture our youth,” said Sarah Beversdorf, Aspirus Community Health Program Manager. “These vital summer programs greatly enhance the children’s nutritional, physical, social, and emotional health, helping ensure the great futures they all deserve.”