In an innovative collaboration, an Indiana school district is partnering with a local food rescue initiative to ensure that leftover cafeteria food is utilized to help children facing food insecurity. Elkhart Community Schools has joined forces with the nonprofit Cultivate, launching a pilot program aimed at providing weekend meals for students at Woodland Elementary.
The initiative sends home a backpack filled with eight frozen meals made from surplus food that was prepared but not served. According to reports from WSBT News, this program currently supports a select group of 20 elementary students, ensuring they have nutritious options over the weekend when school meals are unavailable. The goal is to expand this program throughout the district in the future.
Jim Parker from Cultivate notes that their organization salvages food from various sources, including catering services and large food providers, such as school cafeterias. “A lot of times, people overlook schools when considering food waste,” he explains. The rescued meals are then transformed into convenient frozen dinners for the kids. “Excess food is common in our operations, and we repurpose it into individual meals,” Parker adds.
Natalie Green, who works in student support services within the district, highlights the pressing need for this initiative. “We were discarding a significant amount of food, and it made sense to find a solution,” she says. The Leadership Academy of the Chamber of Commerce played a crucial role in initiating this pilot program. Member Sarah Thompson expresses her pride in the project’s impact, stating, “It’s disheartening to know that some children go home without food on weekends.”
This program is a testament to the creative measures schools are taking to combat food insecurity. Many schools have adopted “share tables” where uneaten food is made available for students in need. While it’s unfortunate that such programs are necessary, it’s heartening to witness schools and organizations stepping in to bridge the gap. With hopes for this pilot to expand within the district and inspire similar programs nationwide, those interested in supporting Cultivate’s mission can find more information here.
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Summary
An Indiana school district has partnered with a local nonprofit to turn leftover cafeteria food into frozen meals for students facing food insecurity. This pilot program at Woodland Elementary currently serves 20 children, providing them with meals for the weekend. The initiative aims to reduce food waste while ensuring kids have access to nutritious food outside of school hours.