Julia Guerrero EDINBURG– It’s Time Texas, a statewide nonprofit organization, collaborates with local cities to promote healthier communities. According to the organization, more than two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese causing life expectancy in Texas to be low.
Community Challenge Program Director Selene Guerrero said the organization works with schools in the Valley and implements health programs.
“We have eight schools that we work with, and we create school health improvement plans for them,” Guerrero said. “We identify any health challenges that the schools may have.”
The nonprofit offers free resources such as telehealth coaches, nutrition programs and workout classes found on its website or app. Guerrero said the organization offers an 8-week community challenge at the beginning of every year that offers friendly competition for the participants.
Participants compete with others by logging into their healthy habits on the app such as eating a healthy meal or taking a walk.
“So, we do make it competitive,” Guerrero said. “We did gamify the app a little bit, but it all goes back to really making sure people are becoming a little bit more aware and more conscious about what they’re putting in their bodies and how much they’re moving their bodies.”
In 2023 over 22,000 people registered for the 8-week challenge, a number the organization hopes to surpass this year.
The city of Pharr, who competes under the medium sized category, is just one of the many Valley cities participating in the challenge. City of Pharr Public Information Officer Yuri Gonzalez said the city is hoping to add a seventh trophy.
“Our points are very close. So, I think it’s just time to step it up and really encourage our community to come out and participate,” Gonzalez said. “We push this message out to our residents, students, staff members, everyone, our neighbors. And it’s a really competitive but exciting time because these events are fun.”
Gonzales said the city continues to promote healthy habits with new events, such as Walks with the Mayor and activities through Parks and Recreation.
