PALMDALE – Nearly a quarter of elementary school lunches are thrown away, costing the United States economy more than $2 billion a year, according to Food Bus Inc. Palmdale School District aims to reduce that number by giving back to the community.
Six schools this month will begin donating leftover fruits and vegetables to South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES).
“We created this program to ensure that local families may enjoy a healthy meal at home,” stated Palmdale School District Superintendent Raul Maldonado. “Our food program offers a positive experience for students to learn the importance of giving back to those in need.”
In an effort to reduce food waste, the district started a pilot program in the summer to donate food to Lancaster Community Shelter. The district partnered with Food Bus Inc., a non-profit organization that distributes food to pantries and shelters.
During the pilot program, Food Bus Inc. donated leftover food from four elementary schools. After its success, the school district decided to branch out its program to help those that live in Palmdale.
The district assigned six refrigerators for six schools to join the food donation program. The child nutrition department selected the following schools: Palm Tree, Dos Caminos, Palmdale Learning Plaza, Summerwind, Desert Willow, and Barrel Springs.
Students enrolled in these schools will be able to give back to the community by donating leftover items from their food tray during lunch.
“Our goal is have our students lead by example to inspire others to contribute,” Maldonado said. “No one should have to go to bed hungry, especially if we have the resources to help families at their dinner table.”
[Information via news release from Palmdale School District.]
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Iris Gonzalez says
I’m very happy that the Palmdale school district is doing this. I know it is NOT for publicity like some people mentioned here. It is funny that when something so positive there is ALWAYS negative people who try to find the negative in this…shameful in my opinion.
Rankin says
Lancaster and other districts where r u? Waiting 2 c how it goes–need cost analysis– policy committee formation, union involvement, research, debate, approval/ disapproval……
A Boy Named Sue says
They may be paying legal fees since Rex threatened to sue them over voting districts.
b says
There is so much waste coming out of these schools. This is an amazing way to give back to the community, while feeding people who really need the food as well as eliminating the waste. I always wondered why a program like this was not already in place.
A. Martinez says
This sounds great, but right now we have our students put what ever they don’t eat or drink on a table and then through away what ever they tried. Then the cafeteria workers throw away all the left over food and beverages. So why can’t our students that are still hungry or thirsty go and get seconds if they want? But as usual our district cares more about publicity and money than the students.
b says
You really can’t judge who may get seconds and who can’t within the schools. This will create an inequality and nothing but problems if cafeteria workers pick and choose who will get seconds and who will not.There is not enough food for seconds for everyone, therefore the children who are hungry need to eat everything on their plate, but everyone knows that doesn’t happen.
No Freebies says
Seconds? At school.
The school is not supposed to be the place for kids to eat and feel full that is what is supposed to happen at home. Lunch is to nourish them until they get home and can have a snack and then dinner.
Also giving kids seconds will surely lead to obesity where a majority of kids are overweight.
I think school lunches should be banned because they are so unhealthy and expensive to make. Parents should be liable for their kids and their lunches.
Quigley says
The responsibility of raising a child is the parent! Who is going to get their azz out of bed….the working parent, the stay at home parent, the live off the system parent, hey I know, let’s get Mikey! Well maybe if there’s time after playing his video game!
No Freebies says
I agree Quigley the responsibility lies on the parent and so many people that claim to be “parents” do not see that. Instead they have children to ensure that they (the parent) is taken care of via child support, welfare and Section 8 housing. Why work when the government will pay for everything?
Parents don’t want to be parents, they want to leach.
info says
Actually my child goes to palmdale learning plaza , and they actually can get more food if they are still hungry. The kids have a table where they place food they don’t like or want and other kids can go grab from it. I think this program they are now doing is awesome! I wish restaurants would do more of this, Im sure they have tons more waste.
j says
Restaurants can not do wonderful thing like this because someone might get “sick” or “food poisoning” and then get sued. Lawsuits, a quick buck, and finger pointing is what stops many food donations .
Tim Scott says
No, imagination about lawsuits is what stops many food donations.
Food donations to non profit organizations are protected by law against liability should the product donated in good faith later cause harm to the recipient.
A Boy Named Sue says
……which is probably why our Vally’s big suer sticks to low hanging fruit like VFW Halls, local businesses, cities, school districts, and such……..