Cultivating Readers, Planting Seeds of Reading and Heathy Eating during Food Literacy Month

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Submitted by The Thurston County Food Bank

First lady Trudy Inslee visits Meadows Elementary School in Lacey.
First lady Trudy Inslee visits Meadows Elementary School in Lacey.

Monday morning First Lady Trudi Inslee engaged one hundred plus Meadow Elementary 1st and 2nd  graders in a food literacy story time.  Washington’s First Lady read two books about the joys of growing, eating and sharing healthy food.  She also talked to the students about the importance of reading. After story time the students received a healthy and delicious snack of fresh tomatoes, zucchini, spinach and grapes.

“We know that reading is essential  for school success, but so is healthy eating,” says Reading Foundation Director Jennifer Forster.  “Healthy foods build strong brains and bodies and make it possible to read and learn.”

“If kids come to school with healthy food in their tummies, they can and do learn. We want that for all of our children,” says Michaela Winkley, School Gardens Program Manager for the Thurston County Food Bank.

September is Food Literacy Month in Washington. To continue building awareness about food literacy, the Thurston County Food Bank, Readers to Eaters and the South Sound Reading Foundation are partnering to provide a collection of children’s food literacy books to area elementary schools and public libraries. Once funds have been secured, all elementary schools and public libraries in the North Thurston, Olympia and Tumwater will receive a beautiful collection of food literacy books for children.

The following donors have generously given to support this effort:

First Lady Trudi Inslee engaged one hundred plus Meadow Elementary 1st and 2nd  graders in a food literacy story time.
First Lady Trudi Inslee engaged one hundred plus Meadow Elementary 1st and 2nd graders in a food literacy story time.

The partnering agencies would like to encourage health care providers and other community members to contribute to this effort so that every library and elementary school in our area can receive a book collection.

The Food Bank is passionate about providing those in need with healthier food choices and educating families about ways to bring more nutritious food into their homes. They have several nutrition-focused programs, such as SNAP-Ed and our school gardens program, that target youth to address the adverse affects of hunger and poor nutrition.

The South Sound Reading Foundation is a natural partner for this mission. Focused on promoting literacy and reading, the Reading Foundation has made a tremendous impact on youth and education in Thurston County.  The Foundation leads reading and literacy based activities and volunteer programs.

For more information visit:  http://thurstoncountyfoodbank.org/, https://readingfoundation.org/south-sound-chapter/ and www.readerstoeaters.com/.

 

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