Art Truck Visits Health Department Thursday

The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, the Lafayette County Health Department, Andi Bedsworth, owner of Art To Go, and Chick-Fil-A are partnering to offer a new program, the first program of its kind in the state. It encourages healthy futures through the arts. Art To Go will be at the health department on Thursday, July 24 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Children of families visiting the Lafayette County Health Department will be able to create “school bus” art while they wait for health services or back-to-school forms.
Kay Coleman, county coordinating nurse at the health department, said she hopes children would enjoy the activity.
Andi Bedsworth explained how art enhances health: “Art is therapeutic. It helps relieve stress and stress is bad for your health. Art is great for developing hand-eye coordination and early math skills in the composition of a piece of artwork. It touches on literacy and language development when you talk about your art, too.”
Art To Go has been providing art activities to children and adults for over three years and has traveled as far as Pine Valley and Lambert, Mississippi. Bedsworth regularly brings her truck to events like the Double Decker and Juneteenth Festivals.
“Part of being a healthy person is being a well-rounded one. YAC will continue provide over 300 art experiences a year and try to engage every member of our community,” said Meghan Gallagher, the AmeriCorps VISTA to YAC.
Bedsworth emphasized how fun art can be: “Great friends are made at the Art Truck.”
The Lafayette County Health Department is located at 101 Center Ridge Road, off S Lamar past Baptist Memorial Hospital.