Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/776907
Beyond Breakfast K-12 schools, educators work to provide food — and more K-12 schools deal with student hunger by serving breakfast and lunch, hosting food pantries, partnering with food banks for on-campus distribution, and conducting food drives. A few educators, schools, districts and communities go beyond. Sacramento: Barry Roth, San Juan Teachers Association, oversees two monthly food distributions at Encina Preparatory High School. " The need is that great," he says. Roth, Encina's Community Partnerships Coordinator and English teacher, points out that some 95 percent of students at the school are classified as low socioeconomic status; nearly 40 percent are homeless. In addition, 14 percent are refugees, over 34 percent are learning English as a second language, and the school's mobility rate trends above 75 percent. To meet these challenges, Roth has created a clothes closet, established a close relationship with a local clinic, and facili- tated other support functions. The school works closely with Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. " The beautiful thing is that our staff has been carefully cho- sen and knows that the first order of business is to care and love our students, while at the same time offering a rigorous curriculum," says Roth. Vallejo: Produce from Finney Organic Garden, run by social science teacher Christopher Verreos at John Finney High School, is delivered each week to a local food bank and a local community outreach ministry, which uses it in the hot meals served to those in need. The garden was started two years ago when Verreos stepped up to help revitalize and better utilize a rear area at the tiny continuation school. The garden has blossomed with hands-on work by students in Verreos' weekly after-school class, called The Change. " The Change focuses on three aspects of student experience," says Verreos, Vallejo Education Association (VEA). "Personal aca- demic success skill development, school site improvements, and community service — mostly via the garden." The garden also gets a hand from Verreos' colleagues, Fin- ney 's operations budget, donations from local businesses, and grants from VEA and county agencies, which have certified garden produce for school lunches. The district and community have been enthusiastic sup- porters. The local ministry gave a generous scholarship to a college-bound Finney student, and underwrites the cost of Grad Nite for a few who can't afford it. In December, a district official visited along with business and community leaders, who offered to install a timed drip-irrigation system that will double garden capacity while conserving water. Anaheim: All nine schools in Magnolia School District partner with YMCA-Anaheim Achieves for their after-school programs — which include a snack and warm dinner. Families pay a dollar a day for their students, who also receive academic enrichment, recreational activities and homework assistance. Two of the schools host food pantries once a month, and the district also participates in a free breakfast/lunch program during the summer. For the most vulnerable families, Magnolia and other dis- tricts work with Orange County nonprofit Giving Children Hope to send students home with backpacks of food on week- ends and during school breaks. Giving Children Hope also distributes personal and household goods, along with holiday gifts for children. How does your school handle student hunger? Let us know at editor@cta.org. Clockwise from top: Food distribution near Encina Preparatory High School; ghost peppers from Finney Organic Garden; helping hands get Finney garden in shape. ? 35 January / February 2017