School Nutrition is AAUW Topic
Nutrition in Our Schools is the topic for the April 20 meeting of AAUW. Polly Podpeskar, Food and Nutrition Director for ISD 318, will discuss school food programs. She says, “There is a link between proper nutrition, health, and learning. Students are more productive when they make good food choices.” The United States Department of Agriculture administers the National School Lunch Program with the Minnesota Department of Education. School lunch programs are an indicator of many things about our K-12 student population and its needs. The Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count of 2012 showed that 48% of children in Itasca County qualified for free or reduced-price lunches. These school lunch statistics may be used for other financial decisions and allotments. The content of school food programs has become political as the issue of obesity and children's health has become a rapidly growing concern.
Podpeskar, a Licensed, Registered Dietitian, is a graduate of St. Scholastica with a degree in Administrative Dietetics. She is certified as a School Nutrition Specialist and holds a Food Managers License from the Department of Health. She has served on the Executive Board of Directors and as Legislative Chair for the Minnesota School Nutrition Association, on the Legislative Action Committee for the National School Nutrition Association, and on the Community Board for Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Department. She is a founding member for the Virginia Education Foundation and is on the Board of Directors for Queen City Federal Savings Bank.
The meeting on April 20 at United Methodist Church will begin with a social time at 5:15 followed by dinner and a brief meeting at 5:45. The program will begin at 6:45 PM. The community is invited to the program.
The April meeting will also feature the semi-annual used book sale to raise money for scholarships. The Grand Rapids Branch AAUW funds a scholarship at Itasca Community College, one through the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation as well as supporting EF which provides graduate fellowships at the national level. AAUW’s mission is advancing equality for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.
In principle and practice AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. Members joining now Individuals joining now receive several bonus months of membership because the membership will run through the 2015-16 membership year. Membership information is available from Sharon Quern at 999-5929. More information is available at www.aauw.org or at http://grandrapidsaauw.blogspot.com.
Provided by:
Karen Karls, Public Information
326-2053
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