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Nutrition director warns weekend meal program at risk as Fresh Hampton wins state 'Terrific Tray' award
Summary
District nutrition director described growth in meal participation and farm-to-school efforts, highlighted a statewide "Terrific Tray" award, and warned that the WINS weekend nutrition program faces funding shortfalls requiring about $75,000 to sustain in the fall.
Northampton Public Schools' nutrition director (Stone) told the school committee on June 11 that meal participation has grown and that the district's "Fresh Hampton" farm-to-school programs have won recognition: the district's elementary tray won the statewide Terrific Tray competition. The program uses local farms, taste-testing, in-class cooking education and recently deployed hydroponic grow towers to supplement salad bars.
Stone said participation increased notably after universal free meals but that the program had been building meal quality and farm-to-school components for several years. The district recently underwent its federal administrative review and scored "advanced" or "enhanced" on four of six menu strategy metrics; reviewers commended fruit and vegetable variety.
Stone also detailed WINS, a weekend nutrition program started with ARPA funding that provides enrolled elementary students with two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks each weekend. The program reached about 98% of the district's identified vulnerable population this year but is jeopardized for the fall as ARPA funds expire. Stone said the committee would need to help secure roughly $75,000 to continue WINS into the new year (rough estimate: about $10 per child per weekend). Stone added that the summer meal program will run June 29'August 13 at four city sites and that adult meals will be available this summer with grant support.
Committee members thanked the food-service team and asked administration to pursue funding options for WINS and provide a follow-up report on community fundraising and potential operating models.
