West Sioux Community Schools Summer Food Program

Problem:
Sioux County has seen rapid changes in its demographic make-up in the past ten years, and no community has seen that more vividly than the town of Hawarden, Iowa. Many of these families are low income with both parents working during the day, leaving their children in self care. West Sioux Community Schools, the public school system serving that town has become proactive in searching for ways to meet the needs of these students during the summer months. This school has more than 50% of its students eligible for free or reduced lunch. Their concern was that the students who had meals provided during the school year were either making poor food choices during the summer months, or simply not eating at all. Because of this, Superintendent Paul Olson decided to take advantage of a summer food program that would provide free nutritious breakfasts and lunches for youth in the community, ages 0-18 years.

Response:
Sioux County Extension was notified in May that the school district was having a summer food program, Immediately contact was made with the school superintendent to explore the possibility of providing some educational programming to these participants. Not only was Superintendent Paul Olson excited about working with Extension on this project, he indicated he had an individual in mind to work as the program assistant. Extension staff immediately met with this individual and provided curriculum for her to use in the summer school classroom. The program assistant offered instruction during the summer school classroom sessions during the entire month of June. Students attending the school breakfast and lunch times were given stickers to attach to a poster board list of participants displayed in the lunchroom, encouraging them to participate in the meal time. Youth were also give color sheets in the lunchroom that highlighted good nutrition practices.

The school cooks made an effort to provide lots of fruits and vegetables with each meal, a component often missing in the diets of children allowed to choose their own menu. Special effort was made to provide foods from all the food groups, something that was not likely to happen if children were responsible for their own food choices at home.

Impact:
West Sioux Schools reported that they reached between 100 and 150 youth each day with their food program. The children and parents surveyed relayed that they felt the food was not only nutritious, but allowed youth to experience foods that were new to them. One parent said “This is a GREAT program for the children and parents. We hope to see it again next year!” The school cooks indicated that by the end of the food program, children were choosing to eat the vegetables being offered at noon, and also enjoyed the fresh fruits, a change from their behavior at the beginning of the summer program. Parents reported that their children learned about eating healthy from the sessions offered by the program assistant. Some adults indicated that if the program were offered next year, that parents should be involved as well so they could learn more about nutrition and how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet. Parents and youth surveyed indicated an interest in participating in the program if it is offered again in 2007. The success of the program has been encouraging to the school district. Because of the overwhelming response they received for the program, they plan to repeat the program in the summer of 2007.

Contact:
Cheryl Heronemus
Sioux County Extension Education Director
Sioux County Extension
805 Highway 10 West
Orange City  IA  51041
Phone 712-737-4230; Fax 712-737-3590
Email hero@iastate.edu