Mt Vernon Students Champion K-12 Food Rescue

Mt. Vernon Schools will also be helping reduce the methane gas produced in landfills, which is 21 times more harmful to the environment than CO2 gas.  Too much methane gas prevents heat from escaping the atmosphere and can lead to global warming.  The government acknowledges schools as a participant of the K-12 Food Rescue Program as they are protecting the environment from methane gas emissions.


MVCSC is working with the health department to ensure all food is being collected and maintained in a safe and sanitary way.  All foods are collected daily in bins marked with different food categories, thus allowing the milk/dairy bin to be kept cool with ice and the prepackaged items to be room temperature.  All food is collected from the donation bins and placed in coolers, freezers and dry storage marked “Food Rescue Items Only,” which keeps the collected food separate from cafeteria food.  
 
The food will be collected and delivered at least once a week to the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen by local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, as well as volunteers (including a retired MVCSC teacher and several parents).  MVCSC is proud to partner with these organizations and volunteers to provide food for those in need.
 
Schools are now protected under the 1996 Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act which provides liability protection when donating food to a non-profit.  If the food product is donated in good faith, the schools are protected from civil and criminal liability.
 
The K-12 Food Rescue program is an organization that helps connect schools with agencies who distribute the packaged cafeteria foods not eaten.  Additional information can be found at www.k12foodrescue.com.
 
MVCSC is looking forward to repurposing leftover packaged food for those in need, and appreciates the partnership with the delivery personnel as well as the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen.  In addition to providing academic excellence, MVCSC strives to provide students with philanthropic and character-building opportunities, teaching students how to be a good stewards of the earth and help those in need.  




- See more at: http://www.mvcsc.k12.in.us/News/1162#sthash.skrFUJ1D.l0qUKyT7.dpuf