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The Walk to School Day initiative continued Friday morning as school and city officials came together to walk a few lucky student raffle winners to Thurgood Marshall Elementary school.

The initiative, which began in 1994 in Great Britain, has grown into an international movement, celebrated by over 40 countries.

According to the NJDOT, the state program aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, build a stronger sense of community, raise environmental awareness, foster safer routes to school and increase school spirit.

” The mission is to encourage walking to and from school as another important way for kids to get their daily required 60 minutes of physical activity to keep them healthy” said program administrator Lisa Lee of EZ Ride. “Research shows kids who are active on the way to school do better academically and are more alert and ready to learn.”

At 7:30 a.m. Transportation Manager Mike Manzella, BOE member Barbara  Lesinski, Councilman Jesse Kendle, Mayor John Moor, and and Principal Thea Jackson-Byers, respectively met students Autumn Joseph, Sheila Nicolas-Ortiz, Miguel Solano, Whitney Norde, and Ashley Audelo at their homes.

Lee said close to 380 students were met by Hackensack Meridian Health mascot Hopscotch, and were given an array of giveaways that included English and Spanish language coloring books, crayons, pretzels, and reflective jacket pulls.

This was the second time in seven months that the Walk to School initiative was administered at the Monroe Avenue elementary school.

The initiative is a part of the Mayor’s Wellness Committee program and is organized in collaboration with the school district, Alliance for a Healthier Asbury Park, Hackensack Meridian Health, and EZ Rides’ Safe Routes to School team.

[Photo courtesy of Lisa Lee]

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