Courtesy Photo Alcona Community Schools Food Service Director Kasey Cordes and Elementary Principal Tim Lee stand next to a sign encouraging kids to eat healthy foods in this undated courtesy photo. According to a recent press release from ACS, Cordes and Lee are excited about the opportunity to bring a salad bar to elementary students in their district.

HARRISVILLE – Alcona Community Schools is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a Salad Bars to Schools equipment grant, according to a press release from ACS on Wednesday.

This grant will bring a salad bar to Alcona Elementary School, providing students with daily access to fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins.

The initiative was founded by the Chef Ann Foundation, National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, United Fresh Start Foundation, and Whole Foods Market in support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative.

The Salad Bars to Schools program is a partnership between the Chef Ann Foundation and the Whole Kids Foundation. Their mission is to ensure that every school in the country has a salad bar as part of their school food service program. This initiative is a critical step in addressing the nutritional needs of the over 38 million primary school children in the U.S., according to the release.

The Alcona Middle/High School received a Healthy Meals Incentives for Schools Grant last year, which will bring a salad bar to middle and high school students this upcoming school year once the greenhouse is producing.

“We are incredibly grateful for this grant,” Kasey Cordes, food service director of ACS, said in a statement. “This salad bar will be a vital addition to our school, offering our students fresh and healthy food options. We are committed to fostering a healthy school environment, and this grant significantly advances our efforts. Additionally, once this equipment grant is received we will have a salad bar for all kindergarten through 12th grade students at Alcona Community Schools.”

The Salad Bars to Schools equipment grant takes approximately one year to fund. This is because the grant is donation-based from local, state, and national individuals/organizations.

The total grant amount needed to fund a salad bar at Alcona Elementary School is $4,518. Once received, the Salad Bars to Schools will send all the equipment needed to start a salad bar, including a portable salad bar with tray slides, pan chillers, various pans with covers, divider bars, buffet chilling pads, serving tongs, and two free enrollments for the School Food Institute’s Salad Bars in Schools Course.

Donations to Alcona Community Schools Salad Bars to Schools grant can be made online at https://www.saladbars2schools.org/grant/alcona-community-school-district/ or mailed with Alcona Community Schools listed in the memo line of all checks to:

Salad Bars to Schools

5485 Conestoga Court, Ste 110F

Boulder, Colorado 80301