So I teach at an elementary school and have been shocked and dismayed at the waste that is mandated in our school cafeterias.
Elementary students are required to take one little carton of milk with their breakfast and one of milk and juice at lunch. They are also required to take the offered vegetable and fruit, as well as one of the entree items in order to have a balanced meal.
Once the food leaves the kitchen area it may not be returned.
So everyday, hundreds of cartons of milk are salvaged from the trays and put on a table near the trash cans. I try to remember to grab a few milks to take to my classroom fridge, maybe a yogurt, or an unopened cereal back to my classroom.
We have busdrivers who stop in and pick up 10 or so milks per day, and everyday, there are still 20-30 milk cartons that are thrown out.
This does not include the tons of green vegetables, small salads that the youngsters won't touch. And mygod, you would not believe the HUNDREDS of whole pickles that these kiddos will not touch that are thrown out on pickle day. And pickles are not put to the side because they are obviously not individually wrapped.
On banana day, while my students are eating lunch, I stand by the trash can and pick off all of the uneaten bananas before they are tossed into the trashcan. I set those aside and typically,teachers and custodians will pick up most of them before they must be tossed at the end of the day.
I know it isn't because we are not disgusted by the waste that we allow it to happen. So many of us watch in dismay as these almost full trays are emptied into the bins.
I understand that health code violations will not allow the food to reenter the kitchen. I understand that the government has put standards on nutritional value for each lunch and breakfast so each student must have the required allotment even if they know they will not eat it.
This has to be going on at all schools on all levels.
So, amazing Kossacks, what can an overworked, completely tired, single mom do to minimally get the milk to families that need it? And how can your ideas reach more of our schools?
it has to be relatively easy. I'm sure there are restrictions about donating our food to religious organizations to distribute. I know we can't just have the hungry come in and pick it up as needed throughout the day.
So anyone have any ideas?