The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Farmers Market Hosts Holiday Market

[November 19, 2016]   LINCOLN - At a time when eating too much is typically the focus, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Market will host a holiday farmers market to encourage the community to eat well, stay active and remember to be grateful for health this Thanksgiving holiday. The Market will take place on Tuesday, November 22 from 5:30pm-8pm in the Laughlin Center at Lincoln Christian University. There is no admission fee.

As Logan County’s only indoor, producer-only farmers market, a variety of Illinois-grown produce will be available to incorporate fresh and local foods into our holiday meals. Handmade and vendor-created crafts will also be featured at this market event to compliment the holiday season.
A “Taste of Fitness” will also be available to provide a pre-Thanksgiving workout.

“To make activity part of your lifestyle, you have to find a workout that you truly enjoy. We are offering free 30-minute classes at the holiday market to help people find an activity that is best for them,” said Angela Stoltzenburg, marketing and community partnerships manager. “The first class begins at 5:30pm with Zumba, PiYo LIVE begins at 6:15pm and the last class is yoga at 7pm. We encourage people to attend any class or even all three,” said Stoltzenburg.

The POP (Power of Produce) Club will provide activities for children ages 5-12 years old. The POP club is free to join and is based on the original POP Club that has roots in the Oregon City Farmers Market since May 2011. The goal of The POP Club is to empower kids to make healthy food choices, introducing them to where food comes from.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is also offering free health screenings sponsored by the ALMH Auxiliary. Participants will have an opportunity to have a bone density screening, lipid profile, blood sugar and flexibility/balance screening on-site.

“We have a healthy mission at our core. In Logan County over 43 percent of adults are obese, causing several unhealthy outcomes for our community. While we have several strategies to address obesity underway, The ALMH Market is an effort that increases access to fresh produce and provides free screenings so individuals can take control of their health. Thriving farmers markets have been proven to improve the health of communities and after a tremendous market season, we are thrilled to remind people ,” said Stoltzenburg.

The American Fitness Index includes the number of farmers markets per capita as a factor contributing to healthier communities, using it as an indicator for community members’ access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Proximity to farmers markets was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) among North Carolina youth, while density of fast-food and pizza venues was associated with higher BMI.

For more information about The ALMH Market, visit www.TheALMHMarket.org, or call 217-605-5701.

[Angela Stoltzenburg, MBA
Marketing and Community Partnerships Manager
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
Healthy Communities Partnership]