HARRISBURG PA – Students who attend classes at five Pottstown School District buildings can expect to enjoy more fresh fruits and vegetables as they study daily.
The Pottstown facilities will benefit from grant awards announced Friday (Aug. 9, 2024) under the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
A total of 268 schools are sharing a total of $7.3 million allocated for Pennsylvania. In addition to the Pottstown winners, grants also went to nine other schools in Montgomery County, 13 in Berks County; and four in Chester County.
In the borough:
- $20,196 is earmarked for Barth Elementary School;
- $22,308, Franklin Elementary School;
- $20,856, Lincoln Elementary School;
- $6,666 for the Pre-K Counts Annex Building; and
- $22,968, Rupert Elementary School.
Encouraging healthier food choices
State 146th House District Rep. Joe Ciresi, who represents Pottstown area residents in Harrisburg, congratulated the schools for the opportunity to improve student nutrition. “This funding will help Pottstown schools provide healthy snack alternatives … helping to make healthy eating a habit,” Ciresi said.
“Access to healthy food options gives our students the fuel they need in order to learn, grow, and achieve,” state Education Department Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin said. The amounts awarded were prioritized to serve “schools with the highest percentage of children eligible for free and reduced-price meals,” according to the department.
Winning schools have agreed to offer free fresh fruits and vegetables to students during the school day. They must be provided separately from lunch or breakfast meals, in one or more areas of the schools, during each school day. The grants will be used to reimburse the Pottstown district, and other participants, for their costs.
The department anticipates the program will “increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce” of “different varieties.”
The other Montgomery County recipients were primarily in the Norristown School District. The majority in Berks County were in the Reading School District, and in Chester County the majority were in the Coatesville Area School District.
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