WEST ALLIS — The West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation and Community Services Department is working to supply equitable entry to wholesome meals for youths this summer time. The division obtained an $80,000 grant from National Recreation and Park Association to increase its present programming.
The programming will assist households who obtain Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) advantages.
According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 youngsters throughout Wisconsin battle with starvation.
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Shelly Strasser, with the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, stated 60% of scholars within the district obtain free and diminished lunch. Once these free meals go away in the summertime, extra help is required.
One department of the brand new programming known as Mini Marketers. The program will deliver youngsters to the farmers market and “train them the way to use the farmers market, have conversations with the farmers and in addition empower them to buy produce from the farmers market to take house and make the most of,” Strasser stated.
WIC usually gives vouchers for farmers’ markets, however City of West Allis WIC Director Cheryl Davies stated they typically go unused.
“They do not know when the market is open, they do not have transportation to get there,” stated Davies of the limitations households face.
The hope is the Mini Marketers program will assist familiarize households with the market. But they’re additionally taking it a step additional, and can begin offering supply companies for households who order farmers’ market produce on-line.
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The funding may also enable the division to host weekly household meals at Liberty Heights Park.
“Our current summer time meals applications do not tackle the meals insecurity that adults in our neighborhood is perhaps experiencing, so bringing mother and father collectively for this meal goes to assist with that,” stated Davies.
The meals may also be academic, and will probably be a means for the division to attach mother and father with different meals sources in the neighborhood.
“During that meal, we may have a nutritionist from the City of West Allis Health Department that will probably be offering diet schooling, doing style take a look at sampling, sharing recipes,” stated Strasser.
You can attain out to the West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation and Community Service Department for extra info.
