Thanksgiving for School Lunches
Winona LaDuke
On this Thanksgiving, like all others, it is important to remember those less fortunate. And, those who will, next week, and in the weeks to come, need your help and support more than ever. 
Next week, the National Child Nutrition Act comes up for authorization and support, or not. "It's this opportunity or we lose it" - Rep George Miller, of California said in mid November. The key is Congressman Peterson[i] in this discussion, and appropriations will impact 32 million children, including almost all of the children on the White Earth Ojibwe Reservation, and a good portion of those in Becker County. The appropriations will look at increasing the food budgets for school lunch funding for the first time in the entire 44 years since the bill was passed. It is a chance to make sure that children get healthy food, and are able to be better students. It is also a chance to make sure that local school districts, like Pine Point Elementary, and others, can make a food budget work. What else does this mean? Healthy foods not junk foods for kids. It means a chance to avert the epidemic of diabetes in our communities, through good foods. Right now, a full third of the Indian Health Service population on White Earth has diabetes, and there is a rampant increase in diabetes in youth. That has a huge cost - emotionally, physically and in terms of money. Put the money in now, not in the amputations and dialysis later. Good food is essential to making the difference. Some 99% of the children in the Pine Point Elementary School qualify for the school lunch program - offering breakfast and lunch to the children. The Pine Point Elementary school has one of four state pilot project Farm To School programs - authorized last year by the Minnesota legislature. There, a coordinated effort between the White Earth Land Recovery Project, the Pine Point Elementary School, and a whole bunch of local gardeners, farmers, and sometimes bakers means that local, fresh, frozen, organic, and healthy foods come into the school. It also means money to local farmers and gardeners - keeping a healthy rural economy. This type of model is in over l000 school districts nationally, serving some 9000 schools. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act establishes a competitive grant and technical assistance program in the Department of Agriculture to increase the use of local foods from small- and medium-sized farms in schools, with $40 million in mandatory funding.
The bill which, though far from perfect, includes excellent
policy changes to improve school food now and in the future
for the children who need it most.
In the last week of November and early December, the bill will be debated in the house, and it is time to give some real investment into our local foods and to our children.
The key is…
school foods from local farmers and communities…
for rural community health.
Congressman Peterson can make a huge difference to the future of our children.
[i] Congressman Peterson:
Website: Congressman Collin Peterson's official webpage
Email: Link to Congressman Collin Peterson contact page
