Kinlaw Speaks to Chamber Members
 
Cathy Kinlaw, Director of Healthy Bladen, was the guest speaker at the Elizabethtown-White Lake Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.
 
Kinlaw presented a program she had presented recently at a statewide meeting in Greensboro, NC.
 
She began by speaking about Bladen County as a place to live with a variety of farm products including blueberries, cotton, peanuts and hogs. 
 
Her presentation soon turned to education, health and wellness.
 
Among the statistics she pointed out was less than 75% of Bladen County residents have earned a high school diploma.  
 
25% of the children in the county are in homes below the poverty level.
 
Kinlaw pointed out that 8 out of 10 school students get a free lunch.
 
She promoted eating veggies and fruit and walking.  Statistics indicate that walking one mile adds one minute to your life.
 
Her goal is to make Bladen residents healthier.
 
In 2010, Healthy Bladen received a grant that helps provide free health screenings.  
 
Her agency is part of the Bladen County Health Department and she is working hard to make a life changing experience for many in Bladen County.
 
She encourages schools and churches to promote walking and she and her helpers will work with organizations to measure walking areas for those interested.
 
For more information, call Cathy Kinlaw at the Bladen County Health Department.