CCSD School Nutrition Wins National Award

From CCSD: The Cherokee County School District School Nutrition program has won a National honor!

The program has been recognized with the Silver Turnip the Beet Award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – one of only 49 winners in the country.

The award recognizes CCSD’s summer meal program, which provides breakfast and lunches at no charge to students in need served by summer school programs, as well as at select locations throughout the community.

The District participates in the USDA Seamless Summer Option, which offers the free meals during the summer for children 18 years of age or younger; off-campus sites served by CCSD through the program include: G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA in Canton, Cherokee Outdoor Family YMCA in Woodstock and East Gate Mobile Home Park and Hidden Falls Mobile Home Park in southwest Cherokee.

Almost one-third of CCSD students qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year, and this program ensures that children continue to have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer break. The program is funded by USDA; no CCSD funds are expended for this program.

The goal of the Turnip the Beet Award, according to the USDA, is to recognize programs that go “above and beyond to ensure their meals are both nutritious and appetizing.” Applications were evaluated on criteria including: serving local foods; serving a variety of vegetables and fruits throughout the week; serving whole grains and low-fat or fat-free dairy products; and serving culturally-appropriate meals.

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