Hoke County Schools Child Nutrition Team Earns USDA Healthy Meal Incentive Award
(Raeford, N.C.)--Hoke County Schools Child Nutrition Team was one of only 14 districts in North Carolina to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Action for Healthy with a Healthy Meal Incentive Award.
Hoke County Schools was honored with the Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals Award. This award highlights unique and innovative approaches not traditionally used in schools, as well as, achievements school districts are making to engage students and families to offer nutritious meals. Awardees are looking to exceed the nutrition guidelines in their school lunches.
Deborah Davis Carpenter, executive director of Child Nutrition Services, said the award is a spotlight to the work of the Child Nutrition Team in using USDA food products, developing and designing menus, using Farm to School fresh fruits and vegetables, cooking from scratch and the high participation of students in the breakfast and lunch programs. “Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication to the children we serve each and every day of our child nutrition staff, ” she said. “Folks don’t know the background work they do to make it all come together for our students. I’m so proud of the work they do every day.”
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Office of School Nutrition is the state agency in N.C. administering the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Special Milk Program, After School Snack Program, and Summer Nutrition (SUN Meal) Programs with federal assistance from the USDA.
For more information, please contact Alison Jones, Director of Public Relations for Hoke County Schools or visit Hoke County Schools online at www.hcs.k12.nc.us.