Ensuring that students have access to consistent, nutritious meals is a top priority for our district. Recently, we have made significant progress in providing nutrition access to students and their families, thanks to our partners at Albany Fund for Education who received a grant from Albany County to expand school food pantries.
With this funding, we are in process of equipping new pantries in our elementary schools. Additionally, schools are receiving an allotment to purchase food at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, as well as funds to support the local purchase of culturally specific foods. This initiative allows the pantries to offer items that help all of our families, including our newcomer students, feel at home with nourishing food.
In the past week, several of our schools have successfully sourced food from local markets, adding halal chicken and beef, dates, noodles, oils and spices to our food pantry shelves, alongside offerings such as fresh produce, meat, eggs, milk, canned goods and dry items.
For families preparing to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, having culturally specific ingredients available was a wonderful gesture of kindness and support. Purchasing culturally specific food items not only fosters positive connections between our schools and the families we serve, but it also supports local businesses here in Albany County.
We look forward to continuing our efforts to support our students, setting them up for academic success, and equipping them for a bright future.
