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Child
Nutrition
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Child
Nutrition:
Summer Nutrition Program:
Half of the children in our local graded school qualify for free or subsidized school lunches. During the summer when there is no school, many children find very little to eat. Malnourishment during these growing years can take a life-long toll on a person's development. Our concern for the children in our area, with encouragement from the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, a small grant from the Vermont Conference of the UCC, funding from a federal grant, local businesses and groups, and the hard work of several volunteers allowed us to start a small program in the summer of 1999.
This was expanded substantially in the summer of 2000 and in 2004, and complemented by a wide range of activities to attract children and enrich their days. McDonald's restaurant in Fair Haven provided a Happy Meal one day every week to build enthusiasm, and local folks prepared other lunches, treats, and enriching activities and experiences.
Summer Nutrition Program:
Half of the children in our local graded school qualify for free or subsidized school lunches. During the summer when there is no school, many children find very little to eat. Malnourishment during these growing years can take a life-long toll on a person's development. Our concern for the children in our area, with encouragement from the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, a small grant from the Vermont Conference of the UCC, funding from a federal grant, local businesses and groups, and the hard work of several volunteers allowed us to start a small program in the summer of 1999.
This was expanded substantially in the summer of 2000 and in 2004, and complemented by a wide range of activities to attract children and enrich their days. McDonald's restaurant in Fair Haven provided a Happy Meal one day every week to build enthusiasm, and local folks prepared other lunches, treats, and enriching activities and experiences.
In the summer of 2002 we also added a breakfast program serving healthy morning meals to almost 3 dozen area children.
During the summer of 2007 the First Congregational Church of Fair Haven UCC welcomed our group to use their failities while the Fair Haven Graded School was in renovation. Thanks neighbors! About oone hundred children participated!
For 2008... Sandy Brown, our cook, will continue to make a variety of meals that will be enticing to the children and yet nutritious. The town recreation department has hired a new coordinator and she has some great plans for the activities part of the program which will help attendance and enrich the experiences together!
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