WAUPACA – District officials have been discussing a way to reduce food waste and increase the consumption of nutritious foods within the school district.
A food-share table is where students can set aside their unwanted, unopened food or beverage waste, and other students can take that item to consume themselves at no charge to the student.
This method is a way for the school to reduce food waste while also serving to help students get proper nutrition and calorie intake at lunch or breakfast.
Laurie Schmidt, director of student services, presented the idea to the school board at the Sept. 22 board meeting.
Schmidt said that program has gained a lot of popularity in Wisconsin for its innovative nature to reduce food waste when it comes to student lunches.
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has also recognized the value of the program that it has released its own food-share table tool kit, which is a guide for districts to follow to start their own programs.
Schmidt said district officials, including district social workers, the administration, as well as food service staff, have taken the program to heart, working to make this program a reality in the district.
Schmidt said representatives made a trip to the Manawa school district to check out their food-share table program.
“It seemed like a very low risk and high reward option for eliminating food waste and filling bellies and making better learning environments for our kids,” Schmidt said.
The program would start small at the ground level and slowly grow to include perishable food items, but Schmidt emphasized that the food-share table would start small to only include shelf-stable, prepackaged foods and fruit with an inedible peel, for example bananas and oranges.
Items donated to the table must be unopened and free from contamination, as well as in the original packaging.
Schmidt said if the program becomes successful within the district there would be an option to expand into perishable food items.
The inclusion of perishable foods would mean additional permissions and inspections with the Department of Health, which would have a cost associated with it, especially when the food items need refrigeration.
The table would be well documented, with food that is donated being logged, along with what is taken and what is left behind.
Schmidt said while the program does not need DPI approval, it does require the local board of education approval.
The school board unanimously voted to approve the measure.
Schmidt said there will be information sent out to families about the program, and the plan is to start in all the schools within the district.
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