The Palmyra Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to award the Healthy Community Network (HCN) as their current Shining Star business! Located at 1100 Maple Street, Palmyra, WI 53156 and led by Director Angela Villela, HCN is a 501c3 non-profit, tax-exempt entity that was created in January 2018 to promote a healthy way of living within the community of Palmyra. Their mission is to provide leadership in mobilizing a community-based coalition of organizations and individuals who are committed to improving public health by advocating for healthy living strategies.
Director Villela states “As everyone knows, COVID-19 has caused us to change/modify our initiatives, but we have never wavered from assisting the public where needed. We continue to offer events (both in-person or virtually) to accommodate those in need. Some events currently on our 2021 calendar: Easter and Thanksgiving dinner distribution, Christmas dinner and Toy Distribution, 3rd Annual Palmyra Panther Prowl 5K Run/Walk, 4th Annual End of Summer/Back to School Carnival, and quarterly Pregnant 2 Preschool (P2P) events.”
Some future goals include the addition of “open hours” to access the building. Currently they are open for planned events and by appointment only. They have also partnered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and will be adding Community Food Distribution each week for anyone dealing with food insecurity. Director Villela believes that “Hunger damages mental and physical health, lowers performance in school and at work and causes strain that can tear families apart. Hunger contributes to many social ills, from domestic violence to drug use to theft. Reducing the prevalence of hunger can cause a ripple of positive changes throughout a community.” HCN is proud that they offer a non-standardized approach. They understand that no two people are alike, so they offer client choice, provide dignity and a sense of control for all.
Structurally, HCN has four board members, five committee members, one director, and numerous volunteers that support the vision. HCN prides itself on transparency, therefor each year they publish an annual report for anyone to view. It is posted to social media and also found at www.healthycommunitynetwork.net
Healthy Community Network states that their greatest assets are their supportive partners and volunteers. They value the current partnerships they’ve made and look forward to connecting with other businesses and individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of others. They are always looking for community supporters for various tasks. If interested, whether you have a half hour or three hours of time to volunteer, HCN would love to have you join their mission.
