DuPage District 88 honors Organic Life for school food service partnership

DuPage High School District 88 recognized Organic Life on the board agenda for its role as the district's food service provider at Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools.

The recognition highlighted Organic Life's work over the past year, including sponsoring district fundraisers, donating food for a district foundation event, hosting a menu advisory tasting for families, and running a student cooking competition. The board presented a plaque declaring the company an official District 88 business partner.

"Serving District 88 has been an absolute privilege," Manuel Vega, district manager for Organic Life, said as he accepted the recognition. "On behalf of the entire Organic Life team, we want to say thank you for your trust and support and wishing you all a wonderful and successful school year."

Board members and district staff described repeated examples of outreach and responsiveness: sponsoring and providing food for the District 88 Foundation event, supporting staff biometric screenings, hosting a December menu advisory meeting for parents and students, and organizing a student culinary focus group that produced a winning pizza later added to cafeteria menus.

District staff said Organic Life's activities extended beyond meal service to engagement with families, students and staff, and that company representatives have been prompt in responding to district requests.

The board presented a plaque and public thanks to Jillian Scholl, Jose Gutierrez and Manuel Vega during the meeting; Vega spoke briefly on behalf of Organic Life and thanked the district for the partnership.

The recognition does not create a change to any contract terms; district officials said it was an acknowledgement of service and community engagement.

The board moved on to other agenda items after the presentation.