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Searcy, AR – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln and Representative Vic Snyder announced today that Searcy Public Schools has been awarded the Victory Against Hunger Award from the Congressional Hunger Center, a nonprofit anti-hunger training organization located in Washington, DC. Both Senator Lincoln and Congressman Snyder nominated Searcy Public Schools to receive the award.
The annual Victory Against Hunger Awards recognize outstanding organizations in the United States that work to end hunger at the state and local level. Established in 1993, the Congressional Hunger Center's mission is to fight hunger by developing leaders who have a shared commitment to a nation and a world free from hunger.
“The Searcy School District has been a leader in the effort to increase healthy eating and exercise habits in our kids,” said Congressman Snyder. “They have put a lot of work into this project, and I am so pleased that they are receiving recognition for those efforts.”
“Through its innovative nutrition program, Searcy Public Schools has ensured that more children not only receive a meal, but one comprised of healthy, nutritious food," Senator Lincoln said. "Their efforts should serve as a model for other school districts in Arkansas for providing students with healthy food choices at school.”
Awards were given to schools and local and statewide organizations that demonstrated success and creativity in “fighting hunger through developing and/or implementing local and state school meals wellness policies.” The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires schools to incorporate nutrition education, physical activity and improvements in the nutritional quality of all foods served in school as a pathway for educating children about healthier eating habits and diet.
The Searcy School District renovated the cafeteria and increased the availability of healthy food choices, including daily lower fat choices on the a la carte menu such as baked potatoes and grilled chicken sandwiches. Also, in an attempt to decrease overt identification of free/reduced priced students and reduce stigma, the district changed to a computer operated meal-counting system. By implementing these changes, it has increased the high school’s participation in school meal programs drastically, with over 90% of the students purchasing some food items while reimbursable meal participation increased from 40% to over 60%.
With the help of the nutrition program headed by Searcy’s Charlotte Davis, the district has realized that obesity and hunger are not just a local problem but also a statewide issue. The collection of policies and initiatives undertaken by the Searcy School District has been used as a model for other districts in the area. The Child Nutrition Program assisted with the development of recommended nutrition standards and portion sizes for all foods sold in public schools in Arkansas. |
