Blues grant helps “green” Taylor elementary school

Officials from the City of Taylor and Board of Education gathered recently with students from Blair Moody Elementary School for the official dedication of the new "Hoop House" installed at the school.

The Hoop House, a stand-alone greenhouse, will be used to teach the school's 370 students, parents and the community about the importance of growing and purchasing local food products. School officials plan to use food grown in the Hoop House in the school cafeteria.

Moody was awarded a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan "Building Healthy Communities Grant" in December to fund the building of the Hoop House. According to the grant, Blue Cross supports programs that help people -- particularly children -- improve their health through physical activity and nutrition. Schools use Blues grants to purchase exercise equipment, build playgrounds and develop programs to help students make healthier food choices.

The planning and construction of the Moody Hoop House has been a community-based event. Parents have been involved along with organizations including the Taylor Garden Club, City of Taylor and Michigan State University.

The Hoop House provides organic gardening and farming. Seedling planting began February 11. Construction of the Hoop House began on March 28, adjacent to a Butterfly Garden. The structure is 30 by 48 feet.

The Taylor Hills Compost Facility operated by the city provided more than 25 yards of compost for the new structure. Marsh Greenhouses in Rockwood provided planting consultation sessions.

Each Moody student painted a cement paver for the Hoop House floor. Home Depot donated the pavers.

Herbs grown in the Hoop House will be sold to local restaurants. Students will be given vegetable plants grown in the Hoop House to place in their home gardens.

In all, 36 schools throughout Michigan have Building Healthy Communities grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000, totaling approximately $333,400. Grants were awarded to schools statewide, with preference for those with higher student participation rates in free and reduced lunch programs along with a population historically at risk for obesity. Since 2004, the Blues have provided nearly $1 million in Building Healthy Community grants to address childhood obesity among more than 113,000 school children throughout the state.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups that reside outside the state.

The company offers a broad variety of plans including Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred®, Community BlueSM and Healthy Blue IncentivesSM PPOs; Blue Care Network HMO; BCN Healthy Blue LivingSM; Flexible BlueSM plans compatible with health savings accounts; Medicare Advantage; Part D Prescription Drug plans, and MyBlueSM products in the under-age-65 individual market.

BCBSM also offers dental, vision and hearing plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com.