Health and Fitness : RETHINK YOUR DRINK 2022 APPLICATION OPEN FROM DELTA DENTAL OF IOWA FOUNDATION

Iowa schools are eligible to receive a water bottle filling station.

Iowa schools have the opportunity to receive a new water bottle filling station through the Rethink Your Drink program, funded by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Selected schools will have an old drinking fountain replaced with a new Elkay water bottle filling station.

Priority will be given to schools that have one or fewer water bottle filling stations in their building and schools that have a free and reduced price lunch status of 50% or greater. Applications for this program opened on January 10 and will close on March 1. To apply, visit deltadentalia.com/foundation/grants.

"Rethink Your Drink helps to improve the oral and overall health of Iowans by investing in schools and improving communities," said Suzanne Heckenlaible, executive director of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. "Whether we're in the classroom or being active in our community, staying hydrated is key to supporting our health."

"Water is an important contributor to good oral and overall health. However, ensuring students are hydrated can be a challenge. More than 50 percent of children and teens in the U.S. are not properly hydrated during the school day, which can impact learning and energy levels," said Melissa Walker, Iowa School Nurse Consultant. "Water bottle filling stations allow students to keep a filled reusable water bottle within reach throughout the day. In addition, the automatic filling function of the water bottle filling stations reduces the potential transmission of viruses and bacteria."

Since 2017, the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has donated more than $1.7 Million to 375 schools throughout Iowa for the Rethink Your Drink program impacting more than 184,000 students and staff.

The Rethink Your Drink program, is funded by Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation and supported by the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Iowa Public Health Association, Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Healthiest State Initiative and Central Sales, Inc.