Transforming School Meals: FoodCorps' Mission to Nourish and Educate

A national food justice organization, FoodCorps, is making waves in St. Louis and beyond, partnering with schools and communities to revolutionize the way students approach and experience food. Through a multifaceted approach, FoodCorps is not only educating students about the benefits of healthy meals but also advocating for free meals nationwide, ensuring that all children have access to the nourishment they need to thrive.

Empowering Students, Nourishing Communities

Cultivating a New Mindset Around Food

FoodCorps is spearheading a transformative shift in the way students perceive and engage with food. By implementing hands-on lessons, taste tests, and collaborations with school nutritionists, the organization is introducing a diverse array of fresh, locally sourced foods to cafeteria menus. This not only exposes students to the vibrant flavors and nutritional benefits of these offerings but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the origins of their sustenance.Through the efforts of FoodCorps Service Members like Xena Wiley, students are learning valuable lessons about where their food comes from and how it can positively impact their health and well-being. Wiley's weekly visits to classrooms across the Bi-state region have been instrumental in cultivating this newfound understanding, as she engages students in interactive discussions and activities that challenge their preconceptions about food.

Addressing Food Insecurity and Empowering Families

FoodCorps' impact extends beyond the classroom, as the organization recognizes the critical role that access to nourishing meals plays in a child's overall development and academic performance. By partnering with schools and communities, FoodCorps is working to address the issue of food insecurity, which affects a staggering number of children in the Bi-state region.According to the St. Louis Area Foodbank, an alarming 117,120 children in the Bi-state region are food insecure, a figure that equates to the combined student populations of several school districts. FoodCorps is committed to tackling this challenge head-on, ensuring that all students have access to the sustenance they need to thrive.By establishing school gardens and collaborating with food service programs, FoodCorps is not only providing students with hands-on learning opportunities but also ensuring that their basic nutritional needs are met. As Leah Grant, a 3rd-grade teacher at Gateway Elementary, attests, this approach has had a profound impact on her students' ability to focus and perform at their best.

Advocating for Policy Change and Systemic Transformation

FoodCorps' mission extends beyond the classroom, as the organization actively advocates for policy changes that will ensure all students have access to nourishing, free meals in school. Recognizing the critical role that food education and access play in a child's overall development, FoodCorps has set an ambitious goal of ensuring that all 50 million students in the United States learn about food and have access to free, nutritious meals by 2030.This advocacy work is spearheaded by Jessiree Jenkins, a St. Louis native serving as the Midwestern regional director for FoodCorps. Jenkins emphasizes the importance of leveraging the significant amount of time students spend in school to provide them with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed, healthy choices about food.By partnering with school districts and seeking out donors to support their mission, FoodCorps is working tirelessly to transform the food landscape in St. Louis and beyond. Through their multifaceted approach, the organization is not only educating students but also empowering families and advocating for systemic change that will ensure all children have access to the nourishment they need to thrive.