Free family night in Shelby, Sept. 30.

Free family night in Shelby, Sept. 30.

SHELBY – Oceana Leads is celebrating National Family Meals Month this September with a Family Night Event at The Ladder Community Center, 67 N. State St., on Monday, September 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Join the coalition with a night of family dinner, board games and prizes. All Oceana County families are invited.

Numerous studies show the long-term health, academic, and societal benefits of consistently eating together as a family. Children that participate in family meals are less likely to be overweight, have less delinquency, have greater academic achievement, improved psychological well-being and better family interactions. 

Of interest to Oceana Leads, the local substance abuse prevention coalition, is teens that have two or more family meals each week are four times less likely to smoke tobacco, three times less likely to use marijuana and two times less likely to drink alcohol. 

Family Night is a time for Oceana County families to take a break from their busy schedules, reconnect and share a free family meal together. There will also be kid friendly board games and door prizes. “We just wanted to create an opportunity for families to spend some quality time together” says Oceana Leads coordinator, Kortni Garcia.

Interested in attending Family Night or sponsoring a meal for a family? Call Katie to RSVP or donate at 231-902-8528.