Volunteers from around the Long County community came out recently to support the school system’s lunch program as part of the National School Lunch Week celebration.
According to school nutrition director Stephanie Fox, the week’s events focused on promoting the benefits of eating a healthy school lunch. Volunteers from the Ludowici Police Department, the Long County Sheriff’s Office, the Ludowici/Long County Volunteer Fire Department, Long County EMS, the board of education, the city of Ludowici and the board office joined students for lunch. In addition to eating with the children, several volunteers also served meals at schools.
Fox said the school system’s weekly lunch menu featured dishes such as Pennsylvania Philly steak, Carolina barbecue pork, Coney Island hot dogs, Georgia peach cobbler, roasted chicken and everyone’s favorite — sliced watermelon. The meals were chosen to educate students on the types of food that are specific to certain regions of the country. The preparation of healthy food is something the school system emphasizes all year long, not just on special occasions, Fox said.
“We have incorporated more fruits and vegetables into the menus, and we are promoting positive changes to raise awareness to the benefits of school lunch,” she said.
The federally funded National School Lunch Program has provided nutritionally balanced and healthy meals to students every school day for more than 60 years, according to Fox. She said that the weeklong observance was a successful, positive experience for all who participated, and she is thankful to everyone who was involved, including Ludowici Mayor James Fuller, Board of Education Chairwoman Janet Watford, BoE member Julie Dawson, Superintendent Dr. Robert Waters and Fire Chief Richard Truman.
“I am especially grateful to the community leaders who graciously accepted our request to be a part of this event,” Fox said. “It would not have been such a success without the support of the community. Our community leaders have proven that they are always ready to serve when it involves the children of Long County.”