Walmart, YMCA take healty steps

FRANKLIN — After a long day of work it make sense to maneuver the minivan into the closest parking spot at the store, dash in to grab much needed toilet paper and cat food, then dash out. However parking the car could further from the store, and taking a detour past the garden department could tack on some serious steps to the daily recommended 10,000.
10,000.
Strap on that Fitbit, park in the middle of the lot, and be surprised how quickly those steps can add up. Daunting? Yes. Doable? Absolutely.
Franklin Walmart and The YMCA of Hardyston has partnered to introduce Healthy Steps. A new program in which signs are affixed in Wal-Mart's parking lot, letting shoppers know how many steps it will take them to reach certain departments in the store.
"We are creatures of habit," says Alma Dhuyvetter, the Wellness Director at the Y. "We tend to pick the closest spot to a store and this program will start to give people an idea of how many steps they take. This is not a quick fix, yet a journey."
With funding through a 2-year grant from Atlantic Health, Wal-Mart and the Y hope to improve community health one step at a time.
Marie Pallotta, the community involvement coordinator, echoes the sentiment of taking small steps to improve health.
"In this retail environment we are able to reach a wide variety of people and give the message that health is important," she said.
"Between the Y and Walmart's partnership, making healthy choices will be easier."
On a muggy Wednesday morning, Walmart held an event to kick off the introduction of Healthy Steps. Pedometers and healthful snacks were available to customers. Walmart Pharmacy's amiable young pharmacist, Arpan Patel spoke to shoppers regarding health concerns, such as the myth that one should not get a flu shot early in the season. Turns out August and September are ideal months for getting vaccinated against the virus-before flu season.
Corey Brown, Assistant Executive of the Y spoke about the importance of not only helping the community get fit, but employees as well.
"This program will help impact the employees of Walmart," he says. "When you work in a retail store you have a great opportunity to achieve steps."
Healthy Steps is one of many community programs Franklin Wal-Mart participates in. The store has teamed up with The Salvation Army in The Sneaker Program-an effort to provide free socks and sneakers to school aged children in need.