Write a commentFulton City School District students, teachers, administrators and community supporters spent a recent Saturday morning packing 10,000 servings of macaroni-and-cheese to ensure the community’s children do not go hungry this summer.
As president of the G. Ray Bodley High School student senate, senior Jenna Ruzekowicz helped coordinate a Feeding Children Everywhere event at the Fulton Junior High School upon learning of the need throughout the district. She said her concern stemmed from the many FCSD children taking advantage of the district’s new Community Eligibility Provision, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service non-pricing meal serve option for school districts in low-income areas.
“It dawned on us that when they go home for the summer, they don’t get free breakfast and lunch,” Ruzekowicz said, as she took a quick break from the packing event. “This is to help them get meals to lessen the burden.”
She and fellow student senate members worked on the project throughout the 2018-2019 school year and sought financial contributions from local businesses to help fund the effort. The total $4,000 project was split evenly between the student senate’s contributions and the community’s support, she said.
Students from each of the district’s elementary schools, FJHS and GRB will benefit from the event.
GRB Principal Donna Parkhurst said she was proud to be a part of such an amazing and fun event. GRB English Department Chairwoman Danielle Florio said the key to her group winning the three-box packing race was simply finding an efficient packing system. Briana Blanchard, Feeding Children Everywhere event lead, said those friendly competitions help keep the momentum going throughout each FCE packing event.
“This is a huge impact here; this is amazing,” she said of the Fulton effort.
A total 1,350 pounds of noodles and 200 pounds of cheese sauce mix contributed to the 10,000 prepared servings of macaroni-and-cheese. The Fulton City School District will distribute the packaged boxes to each of the buildings over the next couple of weeks as the school year comes to an end.
