Cassandra Williams-Rush
Through the years, we’ve worked with exceptional individuals who understand local challenges facing their communities, and have the passion and the vision to create opportunities where people can make healthy choices where they live, work, learn, play and pray. We’re recognizing these individuals, who have been nominated by their peers and colleagues, to showcase their commitment to making the healthy choice, the easy choice.
Growing up on her family farm, Cassandra Williams-Rush was taught at an early age to eat fresh foods and to be active, and she has excelled in communicating this to Williamsburg County residents. After receiving her graduate degree in Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health Science from the University of South Carolina, she was inspired by Regina Nesmith at SC DHEC and joined the efforts of the Eat Smart Move More movement.
“Mrs. Williams-Rush works tirelessly on community initiatives that promote access to healthy and fresh foods,” says Nesmith.
As the Director of the Williamsburg County Mobile Famers Market and owner of Williams Farm and Vineyard, she has been successful in re-establishing the farmers market, as well as starting four other locations in the county. Her family’s farm has been able to participate in the farmer’s markets and offers tours and a Labor Day festival as well.
While finding farmers to participate in, and encouraging citizens to attend the markets can be an uphill battle, Williams-Rush says she hopes to improve the health in her community by promoting the markets. “We’re hosting a farmer’s market workshop to encourage farmers to come and participate. Our hope is to get them excited and build enthusiasm and interest for participating in the markets.”
The markets run from June through August on the following days: Lane on Tuesdays, Greeleyville on Wednesdays, Hemingway on Thursdays, and Kingstree on Fridays. Williams-Rush is also getting people to learn about alternative ways to be physically active besides going to the gym; she is educating people on the benefits of gardening and cleaning the house as options.