Teaming Up With Gleaners Food Bank
- By
- Brooke Hempton, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
- Play:
- Topics:
- Access to Healthy Foods
Our school has partnered with a local food bank called Gleaner's, to provide healthy nutritious food items, particularly seasonal produce, to our families. To improve access to healthy foods and remove barriers to getting these items such as transportation or stigma, the food is made available to all families in the neighborhood, not just those whose students attend our school or families in need. Food is available for pick-up during the school day as well as at dismissal time, so families picking up their child from school can also pick up food items! We have also posted nutrition-related posters in the hallways as well as in the gym for all students, staff, parents and school visitors to see. In addition, we implemented Wellness Wednesdays, in which each Wednesday during announcements there is a healthy message read to all students and staff. There is also a nutrition-related riddle that is read to students with an answer following a short pause for students to reflect on an answer.