Lawndale Elementary School District is a small district with a solid infrastructure of working edible school gardens. The district’s Wellness Program is addressing issues surrounding access to healthy foods while educating students about nutrition, agriculture, biodiversity, youth-led advocacy and sustainability. Students are learning how to be good stewards of the earth and good stewards of their bodies.

FoodCorps Service Members at LESD support garden enhanced nutrition education programs at two elementary schools, and provide garden lessons, taste tests and cooking opportunities to Kindergarten through 5th grade students. In addition, the Service Member coordinates with each school’s Senior Food Service Assistant to deliver garden grown crops to the kitchen for use in the cafeteria salad bar, and hosts occasional free pop up farm stands. The Service Member helps maintain the garden, and is involved in positive behavior incentive programs during lunch and special school wide wellness events.

Service in California connects you to a legacy and future of innovative Farm to School programming, vibrant school communities, and equitable access to nourishing school meals. FoodCorps California Service Members are part of a 34-person cohort serving in communities across the state. California service members are important members of the school and district community, lead nutrition and garden lessons, promote social and emotional wellness, and support initiatives such as School Meals For All, California Thursdays/California Food for California Kids, and Harvest of the Month programs by running taste tests, supporting meal programs, and making mealtime an educational and socially fulfilling time.