ADVOCATING EXTERNALLY FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS

BY LAURA ROWELL, 2022-2023 SNA-WI SECRETARY/TREASURER

Serving healthy school meals to families (including students and family members) doesn’t always have to be in a school cafeteria. We have taken an out of the box thinking approach for our community and want to share ideas with you that advocate for the health and wellbeing of the students.

Our district is grateful to be able to partner with our local non-profit food pantry to serve food to families in creative yet thoughtful ways and promote school nutrition. We collaborate with staff of the pantry to understand the greatest needs and connect the dots to what our School Nutrition department can provide.

For many years, we have received a list of families that are in a place where they would welcome food that is not consumed (either pre-packaged or wrapped) during the meal service. Instead of our kitchen staff throwing it away, we collect it for them at our ‘Giving Table.’ See photo below. The kitchen staff members are in constant communication with the families to coordinate pickups at least once a week. This helps reduce food waste for the kitchen staff while providing a small donation to families in our community. It’s a win-win situation for all.

Along with the Giving Table, our district hosts an extravagant event each year which includes an auction and multiple fundraising strategies to raise money for families in our community. All the proceeds that are raised are used to put countless backpacks together in August so that children that are in need in the district are prepared with grade specific school supplies and ready to start the school year strong. This event also supports monthly food, student/ family assistance, school supplies, transportation, hygiene items, field trips, socks and underwear, and a Holiday Store. Our School Nutrition is part of this event to serve one of our homemade staple items of our choice. This year we chose to serve our Creamy Chicken Dumpling Soup which warms every soul - whether it be a student, parent, or community member. We do this every year because it allows us to share what our School Nutrition program is all about. It also provides an example of what is served in schools to our community so they can see and taste the amazing food we provide to our students, many times their own children!

Finally, we partner with The Giving Tree to collaborate with a united communication to all our families to ensure families know why applying for free/reduced meal benefits may benefit their students. Working together creates an atmosphere where the stigma of "proof of poverty" can be lightened and families see School Nutrition as another tool their family can access for support.

Hopefully this article has sparked your brain in some way that will allow you to take a creative yet thoughtful idea to your communities to advocate for your school nutrition program and school district. Knowing that sharing and showcasing the amazing foods, customer service and love being served to children daily also helps to promote School Nutrition programs across the state of Wisconsin.

LAURA ROWELL SNA-WI SECRETARY/TREASURER | LAURROWE@HSSDSCHOOLS.ORG