Food waste and Food insecurity in local schools, in Ashtabula, Ohio. A ton of federally funded food is being wasted during school lunch. Uneaten pieces of fruit, packaged snacks, and boxed milk is ending up in landfills, while many students suffer from food insecurity through our community.
We launched the project, in December 2023, after: A.) Teaching students about food waste through interactive classroom programs; B.) Observing and collecting data on the amount of federally funded food being wasted at lunch (we are talking hundred of uneaten pieces of fruit, packaged snacks, and boxed milk, wasted daily), C.) Getting students excited about a Food Share Table, where uneaten food would be collected and redistributed back to students who wanted an extra piece of food; D.) Buying collection bins and tables and coordinating with school administrators, lunch staff, and teachers to have students be \\\"in charge\\\" of the Food Share Table. Third - Sixth grade students take turns running the Food Share Table. Students collect uneaten food, count it, wash fruit, and redistribute. Students RUN to the table because they are so excited about this project and the difference they are making! High school seniors help younger students at the table.
