(NaturalNews) Recognizing the dismal health record among America's youth, a group of pharmacies in Jackson, Mo., has pledged to donate free vitamins to local schoolchildren in an effort to improve childhood health. A bit of positive news in this dark world, the effort represents a step in the right direction towards increasing public awareness about the importance of dietary supplements in maintaining good health.Most food, after all, is simply not what it used to be. Conventional soils have been largely depleted of minerals and nutrient content, and the food grown in them is typically processed and refined so heavily after being harvested that very few nutrients remain. Add to this the prevalence of an unbalanced American diet, particularly among young children, and you have a recipe for widespread poor health and rampant disease.However, MediCenter pharmacies in the Jackson area hope to help remedy this epidemic by donating chewable multivitamins to schoolchildren between the ages of five and 12."At a young age they have a certain amount that they should be getting of each type of food, vegetables, fruits, meats," said Jessica Maxwell, Principal of South Elementary School in Jackson, to KFVS 12. "If they're not getting that certain amount at each meal, it's supplemented and they're getting them through vitamins (sic) and the vitamins have the minerals that they need as well."

MediCenter's Healthy Kids Free Vitamin Program includes providing a year's supply of chewable multivitamins to all eligible children at no cost. All they have to do is fill out the appropriate form and take it to their local MediCenter for fulfillment.

To learn more about the program, visit:

http://www.kfvs12.com

In a similar effort, a local pharmacy in Asheboro, NC -- Carter's Family Pharmacy -- is giving away 500 backpacks to local schoolchildren that contain not only a variety of school supplies, but also a year's supply of vitamins (http://www.digtriad.com).