In a heartwarming initiative, an Indiana school district has joined forces with a local nonprofit to ensure that leftover cafeteria food finds a purpose instead of going to waste. Elkhart Community Schools has partnered with the organization Fresh Start to create a pilot program that provides meals for children who might face food shortages over the weekend.
At Woodland Elementary, a select group of students is now receiving backpacks filled with eight frozen meals every Friday, made from food that was prepared but not served during lunch hours. As reported by local news outlet WSBT, the program aims to expand to other schools in the district in the future.
While students can get breakfast and lunch at school, weekends pose a challenge for some families. Jim Raines from Fresh Start shared, “We collect food from various sources, including catering services and schools. Many don’t realize that schools can be a significant source of surplus food.” The meals are then “rescued” and repurposed into convenient frozen dinners for kids to take home. “Over-preparation is common in food services, and we utilize that to create individual meals,” says Raines.
Currently, the pilot program benefits 20 elementary students who will receive frozen meals until the school year concludes. Natalie Greene from the district’s student services remarked, “We were wasting a lot of food, and this initiative made sense. Fresh Start visits three times a week to pick up the surplus.”
The project was initiated by the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Academy. Member Laura Thompson expressed pride in the program, stating, “It’s impactful to know we’re helping children who might not have enough to eat over the weekends.”
School cafeterias are often at the forefront of creative solutions to combat food insecurity, and some have even established “share tables” where unused food is available for students in need. Although it’s disheartening that food insecurity exists, it’s inspiring to see schools and organizations stepping in to help. One can only hope that this pilot program not only flourishes in its district but also inspires similar initiatives across the nation. For those interested in supporting this cause, consider donating to Fresh Start.
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In summary, the collaboration between Elkhart Community Schools and Fresh Start exemplifies how innovative thinking can tackle food waste and support children in need. By transforming leftovers into frozen meals, they are not only reducing waste but also ensuring that students have enough food to last through weekends.
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