October 12, 2022

(Hoover, AL) - On Wednesday, October 12, 2022, representatives from the USDA Food and Nutrition Services Southeast Regional Office and the Alabama State Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Program visited Rocky Ridge Elementary School (RRES) and Spain Park High School in recognition of National School Lunch Week. This year’s fun and creative campaign theme, “Peace, Love, & School Lunch,” highlights the importance of healthy school lunches that impact student success, both in and out of the classroom. 

Izra Brown, Deputy Regional Administrator for the USDA Food and Nutrition Services, said, “We’re visiting different state agencies in the southeast celebrating National School Lunch Week and looking at all the fruits and vegetables and foods that students are eating during lunchtime. One of the things I do when I go into a lunchroom is see what the kids are eating. I look for what’s working and not working and champion the feeding goals we try to establish with National School Lunch Week.”

At RRES, there was a school-wide costume/dress-up contest among students, faculty, and staff. The menu for the day was reflective of a typical 1960s meal: Sloppy Joes, tater tots, salad, sliced peaches, and milk.

Jacob Hogue, RRES second grader, said, “It’s a Groovy Day at Rocky Ridge, and I had fun dressing up, and I’m proud of this costume. My mom gave me something to wear, and I'm very proud of my mom. You never know - You can meet someone new in the cafeteria, and I like the food very much.”

National School Lunch Week is an opportunity to highlight the USDA’s National School Lunch Program because it provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or free lunches to children each school day, providing critical nutrition to tens of millions of children. On average, 9,000 students per day in Hoover City Schools (HCS) participate in the National School Lunch Program. In addition, HCS serves about 3,000 students per day through the School Breakfast Program.

Melinda Bonner, HCS Child Nutrition Program Director, said, “We have great participation, and our cafeteria staff is working hard to provide those nutritious meals that are tasty and fun to eat as well. We are thrilled to host the Southeast Region of the USDA and the State Department of Education Child Nutrition Program Director for our celebration of National School Lunch Week. We love to be able to share with them the excitement the children have.”