Norwood distributes pedometers to employees, launches walking challenge funded by health grants

NORWOOD, Ohio — Norwood health officials handed out 225 pedometers to city employees and launched a walking challenge after securing grant funds to pilot an employee and school wellness program.

Donna, a Norwood health department staff member, told attendees the city used $3,500 from a cardiovascular heart disease grant to buy pedometers and combined that money with a community investment grant from the American Cancer Society to fund food and program support. “We took the $3,500 that we got from the grant, and I shouldn’t say this in front of Jack and financial people, but I squirreled it away in one of our little restricted accounts, so the city couldn't take it,” Donna said.

The program has been piloted in Norwood schools and now includes city employees in a campus and worksite challenge that runs at least through September, health staff said. Employees received pedometer packets with calendars to record daily steps; staff will collect monthly calendars and report results to the grantors.…