High schoolers encourage seniors to exercise with resistance bands

TAMPA, Fla. - June 27, 2019 - PRLog -- On Saturday, July 20^th, Meals On Wheels of Tampa (MOWTampa) will deliver over 800 home exercise kits to Tampa's homebound seniors and neighbors. Exercise kits will include a stress ball, resistance band with handles, and an accompanying guide for how to best use them.

Since many of MOWTampa's recipients are homebound, this program is designed to encourage activities to increase mobility and decrease tension. Some exercises include heel/toe raises, shoulder blade squeezes, and resistance band stretches.

The exercise kits were the 2018-2019 Meals On Wheels of Tampa High School Leadership Board's (HSLB) annual project. The HSLB is a service-learning and leadership development program where members of the Board contribute to programming, while acting as ambassadors and leaders in their communities.  Funds raised during the 2nd Annual Meals On Wheels 5K held in February went towards purchasing the resistance bands.    This program is also being made possible through a partnership with Kevin Healey, owner of A Care Connection, a local in-home care provider and Courtney Smith, Benefits Advisor at The Elan Group that is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant.

There are numerous studies outlining the benefits of increasing physical activity both for the body and the psyche. Some benefits include: reduce risk of heart attack, lower risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers, lower risk of falls, better recovery periods from hospitalizations and bed rest, lower levels of depression, as well as uplifting one's mood and improving sleep patterns.

Volunteer drivers are needed to help deliver the packs to recipients Saturday morning, July 20^th.  Routes take 60-90 minutes to complete.  Please visit www.MOWTampa.orgor call (813) 238-8410 for more information.

Contact:

Shana Taylor-Page, Director of Programs & Partners

550 West Hillsborough Ave. Tampa, Florida 33603

(813) 238 - 8410

S.TaylorPage@MOWTampa.org