Project EMMA - Eat Better, Move More, Age Well

Project EMMA, supported by The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation  (BCBSNC),  focuses on two major health - related activities:

(1) Improving access to and consumption of fresh foods, by :

• Partnering with local growers associated with Madison Farms to incorporate fresh locally grown foods in the Council' Senior Dining Program menus
• Purchasing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions to be shared among Senior Dining sites, two senior housing units (Battery Park and Vanderbilt Apt's.), and N.O.W. (Nutrition on Wheels - our new volunteer food distribution to homebound elders) participants.
• Constructing a rooftop garden at Battery Park for growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, and other plants
• Developing local access to the national Senior Farmer's Market Coupon program to help older adults gain access to locally grown foods.

(2) Increasing physical activity and wellness by providing participants in the Council's Senior Dining Program and residents at Battery Park and Vanderbilt Apartments with regular chair exercise classes led by nationally certified instructors from the Asheville YWCA.

The Council on Aging  is partnering with the Appalachian  Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), the Asheville YWCA, Buncombe County Childcare Services, and Madison Farms in this effort. 

COA is grateful for the creativity, energy, and cooperation of these organizations in developing and implementing Project EMMA.  Libby Hinsley of ASAP is coordinating the healthy eating segment  of EMMA, and Cyndy Wallhausser of COA is the Project EMMA coordinator with assistance from Susan McDonald of the YWCA.

We also appreciate the help of Amy Lanou of NC Center for Health and Aging and Susan Tumbleston of the Appalachian State University "be active partnership" for their assistance with Project EMMA.

BCBSNC Foundation is an independent, private, charitable foundation with the mission of improving the health and well being of North Carolinians. Its focus is improving the health of vulnerable populations, supporting physical activity and nutrition programs, and helping nonprofit groups improve their organizational capacity.