“Fighting Hunger in our Kitchens and in our Congress” a community conversation at Amherst Survival Center on 10/26

special public event at the Amherst Survival Center on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 6:30PM TO 8:30PM:

“Fighting Hunger in our Kitchens and in our Congress” a community conversation with Leanne Brown, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Monte Belmonte, at the Amherst Survival Center on 138 Sunderland Road in North Amherst!

Join us, free and open to the public!

School Garden Tour on May 31 at 5:15pm

Please join us for an informal PGO meeting/tour/party in the school garden on May 31 at 5:15pm.  Our special guest Jane Costello will give a tour of the garden along with a brief description about how it is being used in school. The tour with be followed by a Question and Answer and brainstorming discussion about how families can enjoy and enhance the gardens.  

There are seeds available for planting and a sign up sheet will be circulated for those who would be willing to water and weed existing crops (only a few) over the summer. In addition, space is available for families to plant summer crops in the raised beds for their own use.  

If there is enough interest, a garden support committee of families would be extremely helpful to work with Ms. Costello in an extended collaboration to maintain and improve this incredible resource for our students and staff.

To learn more about the curriculum used in conjunction with the garden, please click to read the ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst report titled "Hope in School Gardens: The Amherst School Gardens Project." 

Here is an excerpt from the report, titled “Putting the Garden to Bed":

“As the winter winds come swooping in and the days are getting shorter, everyone was excited to get back into the garden at Fort River on one of the last warm days of the year, November 5th. The UMass Sustainable Food and Farming crew, along with Ms. Monica Bhomik’s second grade class, had such a fun time talking about one of our favorite foods: garlic! After discussing the strong, pungent, and sweet flavors garlic can have, the kids told us the foods they like with garlic in them, some of their favorites being pizza, garlic bread, stir fry, and spaghetti. Then we spoke about how garlic has a family just like the second graders do: the Allium family, which includes shallots, leeks, and onions to name of few. These related plants smell and taste much alike, and also grow in a similar way.” 

Bring the kids! They can play on the playground or pick weeds. We hope to see you in the gardens!

ARPS Forming Food Services Visioning Group - Looking for Parent & Community Participants

ARPS is seeking a couple of parents from each school to serve on a Food Services Visioning Group. The group will begin meeting this summer. See details and contact information below.

From the ARPS Finance Director, Sean Mangano

March 31st, 2016

Good afternoon,

Food services are more complex than ever with various trends/movements rising to the surface: organic, buying local, nutritional standards, GMOs, service delivery... The district is forming a visioning group to identify goals and priorities and set a clear direction for the food service program. 

The group will include parents, School Committee members, community members, Wellness Committee members, and teachers.

I envision four or five meetings during the summer and fall with a recommendation to school committee in the winter.

Please email me if you would like to participate.
Thank You.
Sean Mangano
manganos@arps.org

       

Amherst Survival Center Kids School Vacation BOOST Program

February Vacation Kids Boost is happening at the Amherst Survival Center Food Pantry. Families with school-age children will get extra food this month in their monthly groceries.

Folks can sign up for the first time (they need to bring proof of residence for every person in their household, school records are acceptable for kids, drivers license is acceptable for adults), or just make a return visit. The Boost is in effect for the entire month, whenever they come for their groceries (this week, or another).

Families must live in Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, South Deerfield, South Hadley, Sunderland, Ware or Whately to qualify for this program.

View flyer: ASC Kids SCHOOL VACATION Boost flyer