In April, New Augusta South Elementary School became the Food Rescue pilot school for Pike Township. The program has been an instant success thanks to an engaged and proactive Food Service Director and staff, a caring Principal and administration and one passionate teacher who took the lead to engage students and get the SLEI (Student Led Entrepreneurial Initiative) up and running. New Augusta South began collecting an astounding 2,600+ items a week--so many Second Helpings had to add a second weekly pickup! Now that food is nourishing those in need in the community instead of feeding a landfill and ultimately harming our environment. It takes amazing teachers like Kristie Wallace to change food waste habits and inspire students to become leaders in the food waste arena. She and her students created a blog for us so you can hear from them first-hand why this is so important. Thank you Ms. Wallace and New Augusta South students and staff! We are amazed at the difference you are making!
The Power of a Question
By: Kristie Wallace and New Augusta South Students
Six years ago, I posed a simple question to a group of fourth-grade students. How are humans and the environment interdependent? Little did I know that question would spark a tradition at New Augusta South, an elementary school located in MSD of Pike Township. This question sparked a passion in these students to learn about the environment and how to make the earth a “greener” place. Students wanted to share their learning with the school community and they started the New Augusta South Go Green Night. We have been fortunate to have so many community organizations partner with us to bring their message and mission to the students and families and to expose people to ways they can reduce their carbon footprint.
This year, I had a new question. As a teacher on perpetual lunch duty, I was disgusted with the amount of food that was wasted. I had heard about the Food Rescue program and suggested this topic to my class. Alonah, Sophia, and Tyonna took this topic and ran with it.
Alonah, Sophia and Tyonna’s point of view:
When we started studying this topic, we went to different lunches and started to count how much food could be saved instead of thrown away and tallied up those numbers. We came up with a list of questions and our teacher, Ms. Wallace, emailed them to Mr. Williamson at Food Rescue. Jennifer Brilliant responded to our questions. We were picked to be first school in Pike Township to do Food Rescue. Sophia thinks Food Rescue is important because if we didn’t rescue it, it would be wasted and go into landfills Tyonna said,”. "Saving food is a good idea because we can help people who don’t have enough food to eat. The fact that we are helping people and the earth makes us feel proud!"
What our students are saying:
“It makes me happy to help people.” Gabby, Kindergarten
“I feel great that I am helping other people and we don’t have to put food in the trash.” Vanessa, 2nd grade
“We do it because some people don’t have food.” London, 3rd grade
“It’s not good to waste food.” Paula, 2nd grade
“It makes me happy to know some people are getting food and aren’t being hungry.” Olivia, 3rd grade
“We’re helping people who don’t have enough food.” Nevaeh, 4th grade
All students from kindergarten through 5th grade began participating in this program on April 11th. We rescue food from breakfast, lunch and dinner. Through May 15th, we have rescued an average of 600 items per day with an approximate daily weight of 163 pounds! Students are learning that food is not trash, and they are a vital part of this program. I am so excited that these students are learning at an early age that they can make a difference in their community! Won’t you join us and begin a program at your school? We’d love to help any way we can!
The Power of a Question
By: Kristie Wallace and New Augusta South Students
Six years ago, I posed a simple question to a group of fourth-grade students. How are humans and the environment interdependent? Little did I know that question would spark a tradition at New Augusta South, an elementary school located in MSD of Pike Township. This question sparked a passion in these students to learn about the environment and how to make the earth a “greener” place. Students wanted to share their learning with the school community and they started the New Augusta South Go Green Night. We have been fortunate to have so many community organizations partner with us to bring their message and mission to the students and families and to expose people to ways they can reduce their carbon footprint.
This year, I had a new question. As a teacher on perpetual lunch duty, I was disgusted with the amount of food that was wasted. I had heard about the Food Rescue program and suggested this topic to my class. Alonah, Sophia, and Tyonna took this topic and ran with it.
Alonah, Sophia and Tyonna’s point of view:
When we started studying this topic, we went to different lunches and started to count how much food could be saved instead of thrown away and tallied up those numbers. We came up with a list of questions and our teacher, Ms. Wallace, emailed them to Mr. Williamson at Food Rescue. Jennifer Brilliant responded to our questions. We were picked to be first school in Pike Township to do Food Rescue. Sophia thinks Food Rescue is important because if we didn’t rescue it, it would be wasted and go into landfills Tyonna said,”. "Saving food is a good idea because we can help people who don’t have enough food to eat. The fact that we are helping people and the earth makes us feel proud!"
What our students are saying:
“It makes me happy to help people.” Gabby, Kindergarten
“I feel great that I am helping other people and we don’t have to put food in the trash.” Vanessa, 2nd grade
“We do it because some people don’t have food.” London, 3rd grade
“It’s not good to waste food.” Paula, 2nd grade
“It makes me happy to know some people are getting food and aren’t being hungry.” Olivia, 3rd grade
“We’re helping people who don’t have enough food.” Nevaeh, 4th grade
All students from kindergarten through 5th grade began participating in this program on April 11th. We rescue food from breakfast, lunch and dinner. Through May 15th, we have rescued an average of 600 items per day with an approximate daily weight of 163 pounds! Students are learning that food is not trash, and they are a vital part of this program. I am so excited that these students are learning at an early age that they can make a difference in their community! Won’t you join us and begin a program at your school? We’d love to help any way we can!
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