When a bowl of fruit sits at a table and everyone congregates, young and old, student and teacher, it creates a healthier community before anyone even takes a bite.
The ability for food to connect school community is one of myriad benefits borne of the Fresh For Kids program, says Emmanuelle Henry food coordinator for schools in the Greater Victoria School District (SD61).
香蕉视频直播淚t bridges 香蕉视频直播� using the food as a connector piece. It香蕉视频直播檚 light and fun because people love fun and they love food and they love free food,香蕉视频直播� Henry said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen you build those connections 香蕉视频直播� you香蕉视频直播檙e starting to build a better community that香蕉视频直播檚 feeling more welcome.香蕉视频直播�
Recently rebranded as Fresh For Kids, the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation program is more than 20 years old 香蕉视频直播� with a new funding structure and the same goals 香蕉视频直播� getting healthy produce and dairy into schools of varying demographics and geography across the province.
香蕉视频直播淩ight now it香蕉视频直播檚 tough for families to buy fresh products for their kids. It takes a village to raise a child, and that香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檙e trying to do together,香蕉视频直播� foundation executive director Pat Tonn told the Victoria News.
The program connects schools across the province directly with local farms and existing distribution systems to deliver fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy to classrooms 香蕉视频直播� addressing student hunger, supporting farmers and strengthening the local food economy.
Comox Valley dairy farmer Dave Taylor remembers getting milk in the classroom when he was a kid 香蕉视频直播� a tradition that continues with the added occasional yogurt or other dairy product.
香蕉视频直播淏C Dairy香蕉视频直播檚 been part of these programs through its foundation work for years, really decades,香蕉视频直播� Taylor said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 all about our values, it香蕉视频直播檚 all because it香蕉视频直播檚 food. I produce food. And I think to most dairy farmers across the province, and across the country, they香蕉视频直播檙e great programs because they香蕉视频直播檙e teaching kids about our food, about food systems, choices in food. That香蕉视频直播檚 why dairy farmers like to support programs such as this.香蕉视频直播�
Since 2013, the organization has helped deliver 2.6 million servings of milk.
香蕉视频直播淚 think as we look at partnerships that involve food, that香蕉视频直播檚 what you want, is win-win. Future generations drinking milk, that香蕉视频直播檚 a good news story for us,香蕉视频直播� Taylor said.
Covering diverse populations, the program is tailored by schools to meet community needs, which can be vastly different between urban Victoria and a small, remote town, Henry noted.
香蕉视频直播淚magine northern B.C. with frozen roads and hundreds of kilometres between schools. Having access to all of B.C. and providing the same level of quality and nutrition is fabulous.香蕉视频直播�
Among her schools, each allocates its purchases to meet student population needs. Some centralize a snack spot in high-traffic areas, or 香蕉视频直播渇ridge of love,香蕉视频直播� or augment programs that already exist.
香蕉视频直播淢aybe it香蕉视频直播檚 a secondary school with a culinary program and they香蕉视频直播檙e going to make pies or muffins, they香蕉视频直播檒l use all the apples from that batch,香蕉视频直播� Henry explained.
There are also the educational resources Fresh for Kids has for teachers online, helping young people connect the food they香蕉视频直播檙e eating with the farm and farmer of origin. Some teachers will align it with Mind Up, a self-regulation calming curriculum that helps students pacify themselves and build awareness about themselves.
It includes a component on 香蕉视频直播渕indful tasting香蕉视频直播� where teachers might take a bundle of apples and use the food source as a base for stopping, pausing and slowing down.
香蕉视频直播淚t brings in that social emotional learning,香蕉视频直播� Henry said.
Or it can be as simple as a safety net.
香蕉视频直播淔or some students, that is a huge, huge relief. Whether it香蕉视频直播檚 because they are too lazy to get their act together to make something at home, whether they are hungry because the financial means in their household is low, or they forgot their lunch kit香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 knowing there香蕉视频直播檚 something there. They don香蕉视频直播檛 panic.香蕉视频直播�
The universally available approach avoids potential stigma. Plus, food just brings people together; it香蕉视频直播檚 a culture and a conversation starter.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not about you, it香蕉视频直播檚 about the item you香蕉视频直播檙e holding. It helps for some kids who have a harder time connecting,香蕉视频直播� Henry said.
The known benefits of a well-fed student香蕉视频直播檚 improvement in cognitive function, focus and classroom behaviours aside, from a staff perspective, it affords an opportunity to send kids to a specific location for a walking break with a goal in mind 香蕉视频直播� and it香蕉视频直播檚 not punishment.
香蕉视频直播淗aving food in the schools is really an essential tool to help everybody,香蕉视频直播� Henry said. 香蕉视频直播淲e know that food and eating are a proven strategy to self-regulate.香蕉视频直播�
Food in the classrooms is increasingly important in an economy where school budgets are tight and households face bigger challenges making ends meet. Tonn notes that $10 feeds a kid for the year.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a really great option if (people) want to make a difference in their community or province.香蕉视频直播�
That kind of awesome purchasing power just isn香蕉视频直播檛 feasible without the program, Henry said. Not to mention distribution challenges.
香蕉视频直播淭here are so many moving parts to get food into a school in an economical fashion. Having that purchasing power and centralized option, it香蕉视频直播檚 been really good for a lot of schools.香蕉视频直播�
Visit to learn how to utilize or support the program.