SALISBURY – The Healthy Rowan Coalition is partnering with Novant Health’s Congregational Health Ministry to offer support and resources that will address the rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Two informational sessions about the change will be held next week.

“The goal of the meeting is to share information about how the Healthy Rowan Congregational Health Ministry program can serve local faith communities and to gain feedback from event participants,” said Jenn West, program manager for the Healthy Rowan Coalition. “This partnership signifies the opportunity to expand programming and have a larger impact on the community.”

The coalition will help offer programs at local churches and places throughout the community to help people live healthier lives through clean eating and physical activity.

“We’re very focused on ‘healthy lifestyle’ specifically through nutrition and physical activity and aim to help provide healthy food options. Most chronic diseases are 80% preventable through these practices,” said West.

As an example, West noted that the coalition suggests that churches and organizations have gardens at their facilities that would provide people with options to eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables.

The coalition includes organizations working together to improve the health of Rowan County residents.

Members include Rowan-Salisbury Schools, the United Way, the city of Salisbury, Food Lion, Communities in Schools and the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.

“The goal of the Healthy Rowan Congregational Health Ministry program is to inspire, empower and collaborate with faith communities to be health champions for individuals, families and communities,” West said.

The information sessions will be from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Oct. 2 and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at St. John’s Lutheran Church Faith Center, 200 W. Innes St.

The free sessions will create an opportunity for conversation about faith and health and the needs and interests of local faith communities, said West.

A light breakfast will be served at the Oct. 2 meeting, and light refreshments will be served at the Oct. 3 meeting.

All faith community leaders and anyone interested in attending should reserve a spot by Friday.

To register or for more information, contact West at 704-787-1988 or jwest@communityofcare.org.