Walkers stretch before the UNCOM walk. (Photo by Sue Vliet)

“Eat healthy. Be active.” That was the message sent by about 650 people who attended the fourth annual UNCOM Walk for Wellness held at Kosciuszko Park on Milwaukee’s South Side.

Participants from United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee’s member agencies completed a one-mile route and enjoyed a healthy picnic dinner of turkey sandwiches on wheat bread, fruit, vegetables, baked potato chips and water.

UNCOM’s Sarah O’Connor welcomes hundreds of participants to the walk. (Photo by Sue Vliet)

“This is the fourth year we’ve done it and I have yet to hear any negative complaints about the food. No one has asked for regular chips or soda or junk food. People are willing to try things. That’s really fun to see,” said Sarah O’Connor, coordinator for UNCOM’s Milwaukee Childhood Obesity Prevention Project.

Staff members, their families and patrons of UNCOM member agencies were invited to attend the event, which was funded by the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative with support from the Milwaukee County Parks Department. Zilber Neighborhood Initiative partner agencies in Clarke Square, Lindsay Heights and Layton Boulevard West also were invited.

“The more people are aware that many people think it’s important to be healthy, the more they start to think about being healthy themselves — about making small changes in their eating and physical activity,” O’Connor noted.

UNCOM member agencies are Agape Community Center, COA Youth and Family Centers, Journey House, Milwaukee Christian Center, Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, Next Door Foundation, Northcott Neighborhood House and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center.

Antoinette Johnson, Kaylin Jones and Sally Nickerson from the Silver Spring Neighborhood House dress up as healthy food. (Photo by Sue Vliet)