Olga McKissic knows about New Year’s resolutions. For 2019, she has a few of her own — no different than you or me. However, one of Olga’s resolutions is to help with yours. As director of the H.L. Neblett Community Center, helping others is something McKissic loves to do.
Let’s be honest, you probably need help anyway. Think back to January of 2018 and your failed resolutions to lose more weight, eat less junk food and get more sleep. If you’re like me, you lost some steam after just a few weeks and gave up on your goals altogether after a few months.
With this in mind, you may be interested to learn that there is hope for a different 2019. You don’t have to fail to uphold your resolutions this year, but first you should know McKissic’s story:
McKissic took the reigns as director of the H.L. Neblett Community Center in October of 2017. McKissic, who was born and raised in Owensboro, lived in Louisville for most of her working life before returning to the area in 2015. After substitute teaching for Owensboro Public Schools for two years, she sensed God pulling her to make an impact in the community in a new way.
“In October of 2017, the board approached me about coming to the Neblett Center as interim director,” McKissic said. “Two months later they asked me to remain on permanently and after praying about it I accepted. I felt like this is exactly where God wanted me to be.”
Shortly after taking over as director, she implemented the Neblett’s first-ever Biggest Loser Challenge. She said the reasoning for such a program was two-fold: to promote health and wellness amongst employees, as well as to enhance staff camaraderie.
“At the time, I was trying to do things to bring our team together,” McKissic said. “At the beginning of the year everyone is trying to lose weight, and so I felt like a challenge of this nature would be a win-win. We put people from different departments on teams together, which helped set the tone for the program, which was a huge success. The winner last year lost 47 pounds.”
Though the program began as a staff-based challenge with camaraderie in mind, the participants urged McKissic to open it up to the community for the second iteration. They felt as if it would be a great way to educate Owensboro locals on health and wellness and encourage them to exercise, eat well and get enough sleep.
Seeing the program as an opportunity to accomplish the Neblett’s mission to empower children and adults through programs and activities, McKissic agreed to broaden the scope for the Biggest Loser Challenge.
So, the Neblett Community Center’s Biggest Loser Challenge is officially open to the public. McKissic and her team are currently accepting registrants, but space is running low and registration closes on Friday.
If you or someone you know is wants more information, call the Neblett Center at 270-685-3197 or drop by during business hours to fill out the paperwork. Cost is $10.00 for the 12-week program, which is set to feature ‘Lunch and Learns,’ guest speakers from the community who will be teaching on health and wellness related topics, yoga and much more.
