Assistant Director of Burlington School Food Project Recognized for “Trail-blazing Approach”
Vermont Business Magazine Heather Torrey, Assistant Director of Burlington School District’s Burlington School Food Project (BSFP), has been voted Director of the Year by the School Nutrition Association of Vermont (SNA-VT), for her “trail-blazing strategy to a 12 months fraught with challenges for Vermont faculty diet packages.”
Facing unprecedented disruption over the previous 12 months, Heather Torrey and the BSFP developed a number of progressive methods for feeding communities through the pandemic, famous SNA-VT. Perhaps most notably, was their visionary Free Family Meal Kit program that gives youngsters with seven days value of meals within the type of each ready meals and groceries. BSFP has constructed and distributed greater than 20,000 meal kits since September 2020, representing 560,000 meals and snacks.
Boxes might be picked up freed from cost all through Burlington on Wednesdays and Fridays each week. https://www.bsdvt.org/2020/09/16/free-family-meal-kits-wednesdays-and-fridays/
“School diet professionals have all the time performed a essential position in supporting college students’ well-being and success by offering nutritious meals to gasoline tutorial achievement, however all through the pandemic, these ladies and men have taken on the position of frontline heroes. In a 12 months when so many might simply shrink from the challenges and take the “least effort wanted” path, Heather led her staff in innovation, reinventing Burlington’s foodservice mannequin, supporting district diet administrators statewide, advocating for Universal School Meals, and provoking us with positivity,” stated Karyl Kent, SNA-VT President.
“I’m humbled and actually grateful to be acknowledged by my friends and colleagues for this award,” stated Torrey. “This 12 months has spared no alternative to current new challenges and I really feel very lucky to work with the devoted, inspiring, and gifted School Nutrition Team right here in Burlington. Thank you to my colleagues and good pals at SNA-VT for the camaraderie, teamwork, and endurance with me when I’ve a wild thought. I couldn’t have gotten by means of this 12 months with out the help from my faculty diet household!”
Because of Torrey’s ardour for feeding youngsters, this meal field program, made potential by federal USDA Waivers, was a recipe for achievement for college diet packages across the state.
“One of the explanations Heather’s work stands out, in a 12 months the place so many faculty meals packages did wonderful issues, was her willingness to share all of the efforts she put into creating these meal containers,” stated Harley Sterling, Windham Northeast SU School Nutrition Director. “It appears easy sufficient, sending residence groceries as a substitute of ready meals, nevertheless it took a ton of labor to map this out, from telephone calls to the Agency of Education to constructing the spreadsheets that helped us all replicate BSFP’s success. It actually exhibits a particular dedication to feeding youngsters all through the state.”
“As a registered dietician, she has introduced the next degree of credibility to Burlington School District,” stated Doug Davis, Director of the Burlington School Food Project. “She has been so well-received by nurses and oldsters, particularly round allergic reactions, nutrient evaluation, and on our Wellness Committee. This has been particularly related and impactful throughout our reopening work this 12 months and our covid preparation.”
School Nutrition Association of Vermont, is the VT chapter of The School Nutrition Association (SNA), a nationwide, non-profit skilled group representing 50,000 faculty diet professionals throughout the nation. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are devoted to creating wholesome faculty meals and diet schooling accessible to all college students. For extra data on faculty meals, go to www.SchoolNutrition.org/SchoolMeals.
Source: Burlington School District (BSD) 6.4.2021
