Roanoke Valley Community Health Initiatives (RVCHI) is the community outreach program of Vidant North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids. Ms. Kayla Taylor, a native of Weldon, took the helm of this organization approximately two years ago and hit the ground running!
There are several moving parts: As with each hospital in the Vidant Health System, there is the overall community outreach. There is also the Partners in Faith (PIF) group, which is made up of members of area churches in Halifax and Northampton County that work together to strategize ways to make their congregations and communities healthier.
In an attempt to provide more healthy food options in the Roanoke Valley, RVCHI has operated a community garden on the grounds of Halifax Community College as well as funding two community garden spaces: one in Weldon at a former preschool and the other in Tillery, NC.
Since COVID ended in-person meetings, the Partners in Faith (PIF) group meets virtually monthly to discuss healthy meals using the “Faithful Families Thriving Communities” curriculum in partnership with the local Cooperative Extension. RVCHI has also hosted summer fit parties in various locations in Halifax and Northampton counties where healthy foods were served to the participants. RVCHI continues to coordinate with various community partners in food distributions in both counties.
To learn more about all the things going on at RVCHI, visit the website: http://getfitstayfitrv.com.
Submitted by: Rev. Dawn Daly-Mack, RN