November 23 – This year, the Wharton County community received more than just candy for Halloween thanks to the Scare the Germs Away program.
The Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program partnered with the Communities in Schools of Brazoria County to host the event. Participants from Sivells and Wharton elementary schools, Wharton Junior High School, and Wharton High School learned about the importance of good hygiene and staying healthy.
“Even though trick or treating is all about the candy, we wanted to offer participants a safe fellowshipping experience along with something healthier than candy,” Wharton County CEP Agent Kashara Bell said.
Students received goodie bags with educational materials about local resources, items from PVAMU CEP, healthy recipes, Red Ribbon Week drug information, donated hygiene materials, and school supplies. Middle and high school students also received individual bags of customized trail mix as a healthy snack.
Amerigroup, Bay Area Council On Drugs and Alcohol (BACODA), Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program (MEHOP), Access Health WIC, El Campo Memorial Hospital, and the Crisis Center also donated items to the event.
Bell said the event reached more than 1,300 students in the county and hopes to make the program an annual event.
Kashara Bell
Family and Community Health Extension Agent, Wharton County
kashara.bell@ag.tamu.edu
(979) 532-3371