Not long ago a contingent of health specialists accompanied Kathi Needham to various public boards and bodies, seeking support of elected officials for improving the lives of residents in Selma and Dallas County.

As a result of their initial groundwork, the Strategic Alliance for Health received $100,000 from the Centers for Disease Control to improve the health of residents in this area.

Under construction is a walking trail at the South Industrial Park — one of the last projects for this year.

The alliance has upgraded the Farmer’s Market at Bloch Park in Selma. A more attractive venue with plenty of room for vendors would encourage more people to stop by and purchase fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables.

At Keith High School in Orrville, the alliance took $5,000 and installed lights along the walking trail for the community. Additionally, students in grades five through eight were given a life skills course, which encourages physical activity, healthy foods and discourages the use of tobacco in any form.

The Selma-Dallas County Library has received $1,000 in books about nutrition.

And students at J.E. Terry have raised their own greens (cooked and eaten them, too), and are in the process of raising pumpkins with seeds from the Amazon Rain Forest.

Doing instead of talking has become the way of the alliance. From all the results, it seems residents in Dallas County and Selma now have the opportunities to enjoy better health through some of the alliance’s work.

Needham and others on the alliance’s team should be complimented for their hard work in bringing these opportunities to the residents of the area.