LYNNWOOD — A new wellness center developed by a nonprofit health group will soon begin offering free or low-cost classes to the public.
The 9,000 square-foot Verdant Community Wellness Center, at 4710 196th St. SW, cost about $4.4 million. It’s part of the Verdant Health Commission, which has a goal of improving the health of children and adults in south Snohomish County.
Classes start next month and will focus on four areas: eating better, getting active, reducing stress and staying well, spokeswoman Beth Rodriguez said.
One of the upcoming classes, called “Couch to 8K”, is targeted at people who want to get a little help in beginning or continuing their walking program, she said. The goal is for participants to join the Beat the Bridge event, an 8-kilometer race scheduled in May in Seattle.
“The goal is lifestyle change, long-term change,” Rodriguez said.
As part of that effort, a nutritionist and exercise physiologist will be available twice a month to help people keep their activity and healthy-eating goals, said Sue Waldin, who manages Verdant’s community wellness programs.
Other scheduled classes include stress management, healthy food preparation, and how parents can deal with teens who smoke marijuana.
A large kitchen area will allow public demonstrations on healthy eating. Classes will emphasize preparation of food for busy week night schedules.
The building has meeting rooms available for use by community groups, the largest of which can hold up to 75 people.
“There’s a bit of a shortage of community meeting space in south Snohomish County,” said Carl Zapora, Verdant’s chief executive.
Features like the meeting rooms and the demonstration kitchen were included in the building after 50 one-on-one meetings to hear suggestions on what to include in the building, Zapora said.
The YWCA of Snohomish County asked for a demonstration kitchen to provide young parents with tips on preparing healthy meals, he said.
Puget Consumers Co-Op, which has demonstration kitchens in some of its stores, provided tips to the architects on how to design the kitchen.
A staff member from 211, the social service information service, will be based in the building to provide information and individual help to the public on how to access resources.
Other groups, such as the YWCA of Snohomish County, will offer classes. Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County will have a private meeting room for those who seek its help, Waldin said.
Staff looked for three years to find a home for its wellness center that was close to mass transit and had ample parking, Zapora said.
In March, the group plans to survey the public on what other things it can do to enhance people’s health, which will guide the types of courses offered in the future, Rodriguez said.
The health commission was founded in 2010, following the move by Swedish Health Services to take over management of the former Stevens Hospital in Edmonds.
The nonprofit health commission, an outgrowth of the public hospital district, is funded primarily by lease payments which Swedish makes to it for use of the hospital. Payments totaled $9.7 million last year.
Verdant last year provided $5.6 million in grants to local organizations for health programs. They include: grants for a healthy habits programs at the Boys &Girls Club of Snohomish County; student health and wellness promotions programs at Edmonds Community College; and purchase of a mobile dental van for Medical Teams International to serve low-income and uninsured patients.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com
Open house
An open house is scheduled at the new Verdant Community Wellness Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday . The center is at 4710 196th St. SW in Lynnwood. More information is available at 206-366-2502 or online at www.swedish.org/classes.
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