Morris pitches healthy habits to city students

Date: 12/20/2010

Dec. 20, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

SPRINGFIELD -- New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris is used to helping people get what they need.

Many times on the football field, he is the guy doing the dirty work that allows others to succeed, like delivering a key block to allow a runner a clear path to run for a touchdown.

So it should come as no surprise that off the field, Morris has taken the same approach.

On Dec. 14, Morris teamed up with the Women, Infants, and Children Nutritional Program (WIC), to make an appearance at the Rebecca M. Johnson Elementary School to talk with a group of young children about nutrition and exercise.

"I think it's important to send this message -- overall nutrition and exercise -- [to kids] as early as possible," Morris said. "Like a lot of things, the earlier you learn it, the more it is ingrained into you."

Morris talked to children who drew pictures of their favorite fruits and vegetables before his arrival -- ranging from carrots to kiwis -- about why they liked the particular food and the benefits of eating healthy.

He then led the group in stretching and calisthenics, such as push-ups and jumping jacks.

While some children were a bit intimidated by the 6-foot, 220-pound Morris, most were excited, exchanging high-fives with the 11-year pro and standing shoulder-to-shoulder -- sort of -- with him during stretching exercises.

For Morris, WIC holds a special place in his heart. As a senior at Texas Tech, Morris got married and his wife gave birth to their first child. As a scholarship athlete, Morris was not allowed to work, per NCAA regulations.

"We were trying to figure out how to pay the rent and all the other stuff and how to feed our daughter," Morris said. "WIC came through huge for us and really helped us out."

Parents, faculty and staff shared in the excitement as Morris took time before and after the program to sign autographs.

"It's so exciting for students and staff alike," Assistant Principal Keisa William said. "We're thankful for them taking the time to educate our children. It shows our students, our staff, everyone, that it takes a village, as they say, to raise a child."

Morris, who has been working with WIC since signing with the New England Patriots in 2007, said this is his first opportunity to work in such a capacity with the organization. He said he "wasn't even sure" if such outreach programs exist in Miami or Buffalo, the two other cities he has played in during his career.

"He has been fantastic ... We have been a great team because he breaks down barriers for us and helps people understand we're not a welfare program and that people do need these kinds of healthy services we provide," Karan DiMartino, marketing and media manager for WIC, said, adding that Morris also helps the program reach out to men, who may be confused about their ability to take advantage of the program.

Morris and WIC usually make about four trips a year to Massachusetts schools, but this was the first time they had come to Springfield, according to DiMartino.

The reason for the trip was to make a concerted effort to get the word out in Springfield because the number of requests for WIC's assistance have been dropping in the city.

"We're not really sure [why]," DiMartino said. "That's why we're trying to do more outreach out here. We know the services are definitely needed and so we're still trying to figure out why people aren't getting the services they need."

There are three WIC offices in the Greater Springfield area:

• Springfield North WIC program at 1985 Main St., Springfield, 737-8868;

• Springfield South WIC program at 1139 Main St., Springfield, 693-1029; and

• Holyoke/Chicopee WIC program at 300 High St., Holyoke, 534-2460.