Farm to School
Foodcorps
FoodCorps is a national nonprofit service organization that describes its purpose as connecting “kids to healthy food in school, so they can lead healthier lives and reach their full potential.” Focused on high-needs schools, members serve where 50% or more of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Your involvement enables this essential program to continue.
In 2011, Groundwork became a founding service site for FoodCorps, and today we remain a FoodCorps service site, with a service member active in schools in Boyne Falls, Pellston, Alanson and East Jordan. Through FoodCorps, our staff and service members work directly with school administrators to prepare hands-on lessons, improve the health of meals and create a healthy food culture.
Please contact Jen Schaap for more information about how FoodCorps programming can help your school’s children establish lifelong healthy food skills.
- Take action!
- Offer to volunteer to assist FoodCorps Service members.
- During school board public comment periods, express support for FoodCorps work.
- Join or form a committee to update your school's healthy food policy.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?
Foodcorps News
Ag Forum: Farmers are paying attention to schools
Never before has there been so much interest among schools in buying local farm foods. And these efforts, according to polls, are supported by parents who want schools to take care of their kids by serving them healthy food. Farms can play a big role in helping them do just that.
With school gardens, it takes a village
Last month, during the last week of school at Traverse Heights Elementary School, second and third graders headed outside for their final garden lesson of the year. The scene was a perfect way to culminate nearly two years of my work as a FoodCorps service member connecting kids to healthy food in the classroom and in the garden.
Ag Forum: 10 Cents a Meal program could expand
Farmers in our region’s fields and orchards this summer are growing a variety of fruits and vegetables destined for the plates of children in seven school districts participating in the “10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms” pilot project.