Page 23 - The EDGE Winter 2022

and meet students’ nutritional needs until our food School Food Authority, they receive the federal
service was able to take over the program. reimbursement and commodity allowance for the
meals served.
In October 2021, Arizona Food Bank Network
received a grant from Share Our Strength/No Kid Debbie served as Food Service Director in Gilbert
Hungry to hire two consultants, Debbie McCarron, Public Schools for 28 years, and catered meals to
RD and me, to reach out to traditional K-12 school the Thomas J. Pappas School for homeless students.
districts with the ability to cater meals to charter The school served as a safety net for struggling
schools. homeless, underprivileged, and at-risk youth.

Arizona has approximately 560 charter schools, and Feeding children in vulnerable populations is a
only half participate in the National School Lunch greatly needed service, and every child, regardless
Program. A study last year revealed that many of the of where they attend school, deserves access to
charter schools would like to feed their students, but the food they need to thrive. If your Food Service
they lack kitchens or staff with expertise to manage Department has the capacity to cater meals to
the program. Some do not qualify as sponsors charter schools in your attendance area, please
because they are owned by for-profit companies. contact Debbie or me. If you have the need for a
supper program or weekend food backpacks, we
One of the best ways to close the gap with charter can help refer you to members of the Arizona Food
schools is to work with successful K-12 child Bank Network team who can help.
nutrition programs. Many child nutrition programs
could benefit from catering to charter schools to Kathy Glindmeier, a consultant for Arizona Food Bank Network,
increase their participation. Since the district is the can be reached at: kathy@azfoodbanks.org

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