111 Middle St.
Weymouth, MA 02189
For Immediate Release
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019
Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net
Weymouth Public Schools and South Shore YMCA Awarded Grant to Pursue Farm to School Initiatives
WEYMOUTH — Superintendent Jennifer Curtis-Whipple is pleased to announce that the South Shore YMCA and Weymouth Public Schools were awarded the USDA Farm to School Implementation Grant in the amount of $92,778.
The Farm to School Grant, distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture, funds efforts to support schools’ abilities to pursue farm to school initiatives through projects like increasing local foods served through child nutrition programs and providing educational opportunities to teach children about food and agriculture.
Grant funds can be used for training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships and implementing farm to school programs.
The grant, which covers a period of one year, was awarded to the South Shore YMCA who will collaborate with Holly Hill Farms and the Weymouth Public Schools food service provider Chartwells to pursue farm to school projects in Weymouth.
“Farm to school is an excellent initiative that helps students learn about and appreciate local agriculture,” Superintendent Curtis-Whipple said. “I’d like to recognize Mary Ann Bryan of Weymouth Schools and John Galluzzo of the South Shore Young Men’s Christian Association for engaging in and pursuing this collaborative opportunity. This is another great achievement to make Weymouth proud.”
Weymouth Career and Technical Education (CTE) students will be building wooden planting beds at Weymouth High School to begin farming projects at the school. In addition, WeyCare students will be working directly with the Old Colony YMCA and Holly Hill Farm on farming lessons and field trips to the farm.
The ultimate goal will be to eventually use the fruits and vegetables grown by students in food services process at the Weymouth Public Schools.
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