Live Healthy Iowa's 10 Week Wellness Challenge, proudly sponsored by Iowa Food & Family Project, has opened registration for its 20th year. The Challenge, slated for January 11-March 19, 2021, encourages Iowans to make healthy choices through a fun, friendly competition.

Mark your calendar for the next blood drive on January 16th, watch for details!Thank you for being a contributor in your community!Whether you had a successful donation or not, your efforts to stop and donate blood did not go unnoticed.

Click here to find your edition of the December 2020 Words on Wellness newsletter.This edition features: ·     Pulse Flours: A Healthy Baking Alternative ·     Recipe for Slow Cooker Lentils ·     Please Pass the Potatoes ·     Home Gym Ideas Stay well! For resources to use during the COVID-19 outbreak, please visit our Finding Answers Now page.

Rural communities are wonderful places to live and work, which is why approximately 57 million people — one in five Americans — call them home. These rural communities also have unique healthcare needs.

Eight months into the pandemic, COVID Recovery Iowa continues to respond to the mental health needs of Iowans across the state. "As it gets colder, as the days get shorter, and people aren't able to get outside as much or gather with their families like they have before, we are concerned that isolation during the holidays and winter could increase with all the stress people are experiencing due to the pandemic," says Karen Hyatt, Emergency Mental Health Specialist.

Here is a direct link to schedule an appointment!In partnership with the state’s public health department, LifeServe Blood Center is assisting in the fight against COVID-19 by testing blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies to help understand the spread of the virus and to help identify individuals who may be eligible to provide convalescent plasma for critically ill hospital patients suffering from COVID-19.

Click to view healthy suggestions for participating in Winter Sports provided by Virginia Gay Hospital.

A Memo to Benton County Residents: Many hospitals in our region are operating at capacity or like Virginia Gay Hospital, near capacity with increasing numbers of patients in ER and all of our clinic [st]tings.

As of Thursday evening, Benton County COVID cases have skyrocketed to a whopping 840 cases. According to the State COVID website, there are 38 cases at the VInton Lutheran Home and 4 cases in Keystone Nursing Care.

LifeServe Blood Center is asking community members to book an appointment to give blood at an upcoming area blood drive.  It’s important that eligible community members continue to give blood regularly to ensure the health of the community.