WellCare Health Plans, Inc. announced during a ceremony that included Macon Mayor Robert Reichert and community leaders that it is providing financial and personnel resources to support the city's Shalom Zone neighborhoods. The Shalom initiative brings together businesses with civic, governmental and religious organizations to revitalize neighborhoods.

The $15,000 funding will go to the city of Macon -- Austin Smith Center for Development to support health initiatives and community gardens in the Shalom Zone Communities. WellCare is committing additional resources to initiate 28 community-based health activities and to assist with seven community gardens.

"Each Macon-area Shalom Zone has identified priorities in the following areas: education, housing, economic development, community engagement and health," said Frank Austin, founder and executive director of the Austin Smith Center for Development. "WellCare is a national leader in addressing the health needs of the children and families we work with, and we are fortunate to partner with them to assist in identifying and implementing health initiatives and activities that will benefit these neighborhoods."

"WellCare has made a commitment to promote healthy lifestyles to help build healthier communities," said Alicia Johnson, WellCare's director of Medicaid marketing in Georgia. "It is exciting to be a part of Macon's Shalom Zone movement, whose mission to enhance neighborhoods and lives for future generations aligns with WellCare's mission to serve our members and the communities in which they live."

The first community-based health activity took place at Evergreen Church of Macon and featured free vision screenings for children and families.

WellCare's community garden efforts are targeted at supporting healthy eating habits among youth and their families. The community gardens are providing easy access to nutritionally rich foods that may otherwise be unavailable to low-income families, while encouraging a sense of community ownership.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, community gardens may offer additional physical and mental health benefits by providing opportunities to engage in physical activity and skill building, while helping to reduce violence and improve social well-being through the strengthening of social connections.

"Eating locally-produced fresh fruits and vegetables promotes more adequate intake which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and obesity," said Dr. John Alexander Johnson, senior medical director for WellCare in Georgia. "Studies have also shown that community gardeners and their children eat healthier, more nutrient-rich diets than non-gardening families."

The seven Shalom Zones where community gardens will be located are: Bealls Hill, Bellevue, East Macon, Lynmore Estates, Pleasant Hill, Unionville and Village Green.