Medfield High School Gets Grant for Wellness Program

Medfield High School was chosen to receive funds from the New England Dairy & Food Council in support of its wellness program.

The school was chosen from hundreds of schools across the country that applied for funding, according to a release from Medfield Public Schools. MHS was selected to receive $2,000 for its Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative.

The nationwide funding program helps schools increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity for students, the release said. The Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative provides support for a number of activities and materials, including nutrition and physical education materials, and food service materials and equipment.

The funds MHS received will be used for an industrial-sized Vitamix blender, allowing for the school to make smoothies available to students during lunch periods, according to the release

“I am very excited about this opportunity to work with New England Dairy & Food Council to bring another healthy option to the children of Medfield,” Dawn LaVallee, food service director of Medfield Public Schools, said in the release. “It is my hope that by offering smoothies to the children, we will increase their consumption of dairy, as this is very important to their growing bodies. Everyone is going to love the smoothies!”

Thousands of schools across the country participate in the Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative, developed by the National Dairy Council, local Dairy Councils and National Football League, in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture. The program encourages young people to eat a nutrient-balanced diet and get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

For more information, visit Medfield Public Schools’ website.