DCSS Nutrition Receives Hometown Grant
Posted on 03/14/2022
The Douglas County School System’s nutrition department got a pleasant surprise on February 24 when Freddie Falcon, the Atlanta Falcons mascot and Falcons cheerleaders came to present them with a Hometown Grant.
The grant comes courtesy of Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60), an in-school health and wellness program, the Atlanta Falcons, and The Dairy Alliance.
Each year, FUTP 60 chooses one school in the Metro-Atlanta area to receive the grant, and this year DCSS was selected to receive the award.
“We’re very excited for what DCSS food & nutrition will be doing with the $10,000,” said Will McWhirter, the Manager of Youth Wellness with The Dairy Alliance. “It’s a great opportunity there to give kids some hands-on experience to learn more about fruits, vegetable proteins, and whole grains.”
DCSS’ food and nutrition department plans to use the funds for nutrition education and expansion by creating a mobile kitchen to serve as an educational platform for students that also provides tasty treats.
“The school Nutrition program is super excited to expand its reach in Farm to School Programs,” said DCSS Director of School Nutrition Danielle Freeman. “We are striving to purchase a mobile kitchen that our Chef Timothy Patridge will complete food demos to various after school programs.”
By having this mobile kitchen, Freeman added that the goal is to take items grown in local gardens to teach students about the origins and preparation of their food before allowing them to enjoy it.
“School Nutrition wants to ensure we Fuel our Future with not only nutrition, but with knowledge, exposure, and hopefully career paths in the future,” Freeman said.