Federal Dollars Help School Lunches

Several schools along with others across the state will share more than $1.1 million in federal funding.

The State’s Department of Education said the competitive grants went to schools participating in the National School Lunch program. The money will go toward purchasing food service equipment, such as ovens, freezers and serving line counters. 

In our area Crooksville, Buckeye Trail, Foxfire, The Muskingum County Juvenile Detention Center and Somerset Elementary will see funding. Crooksville will use their money for a table top salad bar. Buckeye Trail plans to buy an oven. Foxfire will purchase a three door freezer while the Juvenile Detention Center plans to buy a dish machine. Somerset Elementary will purchase a vending cart with counter wells.

The monies are expected to help schools to serve healthier meals, improve food safety and expand accessibility to food services. Priority was given to schools with limited resources along with those in underserved areas, where more than half of enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced price meals.