Trigg staff spends day of service at Tucumcari Elementary

Members of the leadership staff of Dr. Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital spent time with the fifth-grade students of Tucumcari Elementary Thursday to teach them how much fun it can be to stay active and eat healthfully.

For the sixth year in a row, Presbyterian Healthcare Services held a day of service where more than 450 leaders across the state visited schools across New Mexico, as well as food pantries and health fairs, said Amanda Schoenberg, PHS spokesperson.

The purpose of this event is to get active with students by dancing, stretching and learning about healthy food through fun activities about nutrition, said Vickie Gutierrez, Director of Patient Care Services DCT.

Gutierrez said the students are at the right age, to reach out, educate them about the importance of healthy eating and being active. She said Thursday's event would normally be held at the outdoor classroom, but due to the rain it was moved inside to the gym.

"The students will still get to participate in three learning stations filled with fun activities," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said as part of the health initiative, elementary physical education teacher Gary Hittson will be presented with a $100 gift card. She said the money can be used to purchase equipment for the P.E. class.

"I appreciate the gift card; it will be put to good use for the children," Hittson said.