April 1978 Volume 8 Number 2
/ For Bui!ciing Use Only / Depository
PROPERTY OF THE
LIBRARY
JUN 5 1978
University of North Carolina
at Greensboro
Wh S More and more schools are finding that y erve it makes sense to offer breakfast to their Breakfast students. Three articles tell why. Page 2
At School?
A Pennsylvania
County Reorganizes
Its Food Programs
Three years ago, Lancaster County formed a
task force to improve food and nutrition
services to low-income residents. Today the
county has a new well-coordinated program,
offering several projects. Page 8
Why Serve
Breakfast
At School?
More and more schools are finding
that it makes sense to offer breakfast
to their students. The following articles
tell why.
The first Is an interview with
Margaret Glavin, Acting Director of
the FNS School Programs Division.
The second is a general article, with
details on how several schools have
built well-attended programs. The
third is a two-part feature which illustrates
some of the ways community
groups can help expand the
School Breakfast Program.
2
"So children
won't have to start
the day hungry"
Q How many children now have
access to breakfast at school?
A Currently, the School Breakfast
Program is available to approximately
10.3 million children in 23,000
schools. An average of 2.7 million
children actually take part in the
program on a daily basis.
Q Are you satisfied with the growth
of the program?
A No. I want the program to be
available to more children, and
more needy children in particular. Not
enough children have the option of
eating breakfast at school.
There has been substantial growth
in the program since it began as a
pilot program in 1966. In June 1967,
the end of the program's first year,
there were 210 schools taking part. By
1972, the number of participating
schools had reached 6,609, and our
latest figures show a nearly fourfold
increase over 1972.
However, it's important to keep in
mind that in comparison to the 23,000
schools participating in the School
Breakfast Program, there are 92,600
schools participating in the National
School Lunch Program.
We need to convince schools that
it's just as important to serve breakfast
as it is to serve lunch. And, it's a
lot easier to serve breakfast. The
Food and Nutrition
School Breakfast Program is really a
very simple program to operate. The
meal is easy to prepare and serve.
Q What are the benefits of the
School Breakfast Program? To
c]1ildren? To parents? To schools?
A To begin with, children get
nutritious meals. Beyond that,
they get the opportunity to learn by
example-they get to see what nutritious
breakfasts look like. Children
learn that it's very important to begin
the day with nourishing meals.
Parents benefit from the peace of
mind in knowing that if their children
haven't eaten at home, they will get
good food at school and will be able to
participate fully in the day's lessons.
Breakfast is probably the most important
meal of the day for children. In
most schools, the basic academic
subjects-arithmetic, reading, writing-
are taught in the morning. If a
child isn't alert and operating at full
capacity in the morning, he or she
will probably miss out on some very
important instruction.
By having breakfast programs,
schools can decrease the likelihood
that their students will be distracted
by hunger. Many schools report
that when children eat nutritious
breakfasts they are better behaved,
less subject to fatigue, and less inclined
to be absent.
Q Why don't more schools join the
program? What do you think is
the major barrier blocking their participation?
A One of the major barriers, I
believe, is fear of cost. Schools
think the program will cost them more
money than they will get back in reimbursement.
In most cases, this is not
true because schools receive reimbursement
for all breakfasts served.
Moreover, schools are reimbursed
in accordance with national rates,
which are adjusted twice a year. Since
these adjustments are based on
changes in the Consumer Price Index,
schools can be assured that reim-
April 1978
bursement levels will keep pace with
any increases in the costs of preparing
and serving food.
Under the rates now in effect,
States receive 11.50 cents for each
breakfast schools serve to paying
children. They get an additional 21.75
cents for each breakfast schools
serve to children qualifying for reduced-
price meals, and an additional
28.75 cents for each breakfast
schools serve to children qualifying
for free meals.
For schools which State agencies
designate as "especially needy," the
reimbursement rates are higher.
These schools get 11.50 cents for
each "paid" breakfast, the same as
other schools. But for each "reducedprice"
breakfast they are eligible to
receive up to a maximum 45.25 cents,
and for each "free" breakfast, up to a
maximum of 50.25 cents.
Schools may be designated
"especially needy" if they meet
special financial criteria.
Many schools are finding themselves
in financial crunches these
days and are cutting back on all but
essential services. At times, a relatively
new program, like the breakfast
program, is finding it hard to gain
acceptance.
In such schools, we need to make
sure that States have informed school
administrators about how the reimbursement
rates work and about the
importance of the program to the
children.
Q Aside from cost, what are some
of the other barriers? And how
are they being overcome?
A A second barrier is that contracts
sometimes prevent
teachers and other staff members
from supervising children in the
cafeteria. One way schools can
remedy this is to use breakfast program
reimbursement funds to hire
personnel to supervise in the cafeteria.
Or, schools can ask neighborhood
volunteers to do the supervision.
Our experience has shown that the
breakfast period is generally a quiet
time. The children tend to be well
behaved, so supervision really isn't a
problem.
A third barrier to the program is the
idea that breakfast is solely a family
responsibility. Many people feel that
schools shouldn't serve breakfasts.
Our response is simply that the
breakfast program provides the option
of eating breakfast at school.
When, for whatever reason, children
don't have access to breakfast at
home, the school option is very important.
Q What do children ordinarily pay
for breakfasts?
A The price of breakfast ranges
from free up to 50 cents or more.
Since local schools set the prices,
they can vary widely. However, most
schools charge about 25 cents for fullprice
meals and 5 to 1 0 cents for
reduced-price meals.
Q Are child care centers eligible
for the School Breakfast
Program?
A No. Child care centers are not
eligible for the School Breakfast
Program. However, if they qualify for
the Child Care Food Program, they
may receive reimbursement for
breakfasts, as well as lunches, suppers
and snacks.
Q What Is FNS doing to encourage
breakfast program expansion?
A First, we're requiring all States to
have outreach programs. In addition,
we're requiring all States to inform
schools about the "especially
needy provision." Sometimes, the extra
money provided through this
provision can make the difference in
whether or not a school joins the
breakfast program.
Q Could you elaborate on the role
of the States?
A Yes. States have a big role to
play. Part of it involves educational
efforts to make people aware
3
that the program is available to all
children, not just needy children.
Another part involves working directly
with school administrators to convince
them of the benefits of the
program.
Besides giving local school administrators
general information on
how reimbursement works, State
staffs can estimate what the program
will cost individual school districts.
Then they can compare these projected
costs to the reimbursement
schools will earn.
In a nutshell, the role of the State
people is to convince local administrators
to start the program.
Some States are doing more to expand
the program than others. Five
States-Ohio, Texas, New York, Massachusetts,
and Michigan-have
mandated breakfast programs. The
mandates work differently, but
generally, the States focus on establishing
the program first in schools
with a high percentage of needy
children. Later, they work on expanding
it to other schools.
Q What does a local school or
community have to do to get the
breakfast program started?
A To start a program, a school
must apply to the State Department
of Education and agree to follow
certain basic rules.
First, the school must agree to
serve breakfasts that meet the
minimal requirements as set by the
Secretary of Agriculture. These minimum
requirements are: a serving of
fruit, vegetable or juice; milk; and
bread or cereal. We encourage
schools to also serve a meat or meat
alternate as often as possible.
Second, the school must agree to
serve meals free or at reduced price
to needy children.
Third, they must agree not to discriminate
against any child on the
basis of race, color, national origin, or
inability to pay for the meal.
Sometimes community groups
have to work to encourage school administrators
to start the program.
They get best results when they can
document the community's interestwith
surveys of parents, for example.
School board officials are responsive
to what their communities want, so if a
group can document interest in the
breakfast program, the officials will be
more likely to help them obtain it.
After the program gets started,
community groups can be extremely
4
helpful in publicizing the availability
and benefits of the program. In doing
this, they should be careful to explain
that the program is for all children, not
just the needy children.
Q What are realistic goals for the
program? How many children
do you expect to reach?
A Ultimately, we want all schools to
have breakfast programs. In the
near future, we are concentrating on
reaching needy children. But we know
that children of all economic levels
need breakfast, so we want to have it
available to non-needy children too.
The point is that we want all children
to have the opportunity to eat
breakfast at school. If they can eat
breakfast at home, fine. However, if
they have to travel long distances to
school, or if their families don't serve
breakfast for one reason or another,
then we want the school breakfast
program to be there so the children
won't have to start the day hungry.
by Michael McAteer
People see
link between
breakfast
and learning
"Teachers say that many kids who
were listless and Inattentive have
higher attention spans since participating
in the breakfast program."
-Nina Doner, Detroit School
Breakfast Committee
"Schools see much less tardiness
and absenteeism once the program
gets started."
-Charles Cole, Texas State
breakfast program director
Comments like these are convincing
subjective evidence that the
School Breakfast Program can make
a valuable contribution to learning.
Scientific studies, like the Iowa
Breakfast Study, lend added credence
to the testimony. The Iowa
study, published over 15 years ago,
firmly established the link between
breakfast and performance. The
study revealed that children who skip
breakfast are often listless and apathetic.
By mid-morning, their attention
spans and ability to work and concentrate
become limited.
Subsequent studies have shown
that children who skip breakfast may
also suffer from hyperactivity or
hyperirritability.
How many children skip breakfast?
It's hard to say exactly. One Pennsylvania
school district surveyed
parents and students over 1 0 years
ago to see if there was a need for a
School Breakfast Program. Over 600
families took part in the survey, conducted
in the rural community of
Northern Bedford. Survey results
showed that in nearly half the families,
children were not eating breakfast
before leaving for school.
"No time for
breakfast"
In one-third of the families surveyed,
mothers and fathers left for
work before their children left for
school. In other instances, early
morning routines interfered with
breakfast. Some students said they
didn't have time to eat before catching
the bus; others said they just weren't
hungry before 7:30.
The survey convinced school administrators
that many students were
suffering nutritionally from poor
morning eating habits, a conclusion
which may have surprised residents
of what the district superintendent
describes as an "average" rural
community.
One of the first
breakfast schools
The Northern Bedford School district
was one of the first districts to
serve breakfast at school under the
pilot program authorized by the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966. The program
operated on a pilot basis until 1975,
when Public Law 94-105 made it a
nationwide program available to all
schools.
Many program supporters say it's
unrealistic to expect breakfast participation
to match lunch participation,
but, they quickly add, that's no
reason not to work to make the
program effective.
"Participation in the breakfast
program will never be as high as in the
school lunch program," says Texas
director Charles Cole. One reason, he
says, is that the lunch program has
the advantage of being operated in
the middle of the day, when students
-are already in school.
"That doesn't mean there isn't a
crying need for schools to serve
Food and Nutrition
breakfast," he continues. "You have to
remember the children. If you feed
even one child who would otherwise
go without a nourishing morning
meal, you have done a great service."
How does the
program work?
The School Breakfast Program is
administered by USDA's Food and
Nutrition Service in cooperation with
State Departments of Education.
The basic meal pattern for the
program is simple, which makes the
program easy for schools to manage.
Schools must serve milk; a fruit,
vegetable, or juice; and bread or
cereal. As often as possible, schools
should also serve protein-rich foods
like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or
cheese.
Some schools begin the program
serving only cold foods, then add hot
foods as the program gets underway.
"The goal of our breakfast program
in Detroit is to have hot breakfasts in
schools," says Nina Doner, counsel to
the Detroit School Breakfast Committee,
a coalition of parents and civic
and religious groups dedicated to expanding
the city's program. "Our first
aim, however, is to get a nourishing
breakfast to every Detroit child who
needs one.
"Cold breakfasts can be just as exciting
as hot breakfasts," she adds.
"Even in schools with meager facilities,
we can vary menus to include
treats like muffins and cornbread."
Connecticut's Andover Elementary
School began the program this year
and asked students to make suggestions
for breakfast menus. One student
said he was surprised and
delighted when the school served his
menu selection-cheese pizza, along
with fruit and milk.
The school offers students a good
deal of variety from day to day. For example,
during a recent week, menus
included milk and orange juice,
ready-to-eat-cereal, and cheese;
pears, and waffles with maple syrup;
whole wheat toast with peanut butter
and bananas.
Schools are
reimbursed
All schools are reimbursed for the
breakfasts they serve. Those who
operate the breakfast program
generally agree that with effective and
efficient management, reimburse-
April 1978
ments cover the cost of the meals.
In addition to financial assistance,
participating schools also receive
federally donated foods and technical
assistance and guidance.
Problems
and solutions
Many communities originally
balked at the idea of starting breakfast
programs. Some had obstacles
they thought impossible to overcome.
Yet, motivated by concern for
children, they developed effective
solutions.
This year in Pontiac, Michigan, 32
of 34 schools began the breakfast
program. Pontiac is a racially mixed
community with 58 percent of its students
considered needy. The city has
mandatory busing and strong unions.
Despite these often-cited stumbling
blocks, with the support of the community,
the Pontiac school board
started breakfast programs in all but
its two high schools.
In Fresno, California, cultural preferences
and life styles made starting
the program a real challenge for some
schools. Many of the students were
children of Spanish-speaking migrant
farmworkers, whose early-to-work
schedules had not included regular
morning meals. The children were not
accustomed to eating anything before
lunch, even though they were hungry,
and many were unfamiliar with
traditional breakfast foods.
Through creative planning and attention
to the students' tastes, the
schools have been able to build wellattended
programs. They've found
ways to introduce ethnic foods into
the breakfast menus-for example,
breakfasts sometimes include tortillas
and beans. They've found ways to encourage
the children to eat "new"
foods. School staffs have been working
especially hard to increase students'
acceptance of milk and to
broaden the variety of fruits the
children will eat.
Reactions from students, parents,
teachers, and school nurses testify to
the program's effectiveness in improving
mental and physical skills.
Communities find
their own approaches
Many other communities have
found independent solutions to their
problems in starting programs. At
eight public hearings held by FNS this
fall, students, nutritionists, school ad-ministrators
and legislators testified
about their concerns for quality
school breakfasts. Witness after
witness told how schools had overcome
problems of scheduling and
transportation.
For example, a New Jersey breakfast
program advocate explained how
some areas have added flexibility by
offering different kinds of breakfast
programs at different schools within a
district. A North Carolina administrator
said that his school had shortened
breaks during the day in order to
have a breakfast period.
Several witnesses reported that
schools had overcome supervisory
problems by enlisting PTA members,
mothers, and teachers' aids to serve
as monitors.
Support for
program grows
Once breakfast programs are begun,
few communities are willing to give
theirs up. In a recent survey, the Dallas,
Texas, school food service staff
found that 84 percent of the teachers
felt free breakfasts had improved students'
achievement and attendance
patterns; 98 percent called the
program beneficial; and a full1 00 percent
wanted to continue to expand the
program.
"As word of the program spreads,"
says Texas director Charles Cole,
"more and more people realized that
it costs schools and communities not
to have a breakfast program. It costs
them in learning skills which become
depleted from lack of nourishment."
What's more, kids like eating
breakfast at school. One Washington,
D.C., elementary school principal
says that most of his students "don't
need to eat breakfast at school," but
over half of them do.
"For some kids," he says, "eating at
school means getting a meal their
families can't afford to give them. But
for most, it's just something that they
really like to do."
by Linda Feldman
5
Communities
see benefits
for children
and parents
Public support Is often a key element
in getting school breakfast
programs started. In these two short
features, representatives of two advocacy
groups tell how their organizations
have worked with communities
to help build or expand
breakfast programs.
• Last spring, the staff of the
National Child Nutrition Project decided
to mobilize community support
to expand the School Breakfast
Program in Newark, New Jersey. At
the time, only 22 of the city's 90
schools were in the program.
According to director Barbara
Zang, the group began by setting up a
coordinating committee, which was
made up of members of the local
community action agency, the city
health and welfare departments, and
other agencies.
In July, the committee called a citywide
public meeting to explain the
benefits of the program and the importance
of public support. Attending
the meeting were parents, local
block clubs, PTA's, social and service
organizations, the Urban League,
and others.
"When people realized that they
could have the program if they wanted
it, and that it would benefit most of the
children in the city, they immediately
pledged to let local officials know of
their support of the program," said
Barbara Zang. "It was a very spirited
meeting, and they were most enthusiastic
about establishing the
program.
"Next day," she said, "they began to
let local school administrators, principals,
and the central city school administration
know of their interest."
They did this by phone, letters, and in
person. Meanwhile, the committee
met with city school officials to let
them know they wanted to expand the
program.
"It became apparent," said Zang,
"that officials felt the city didn't have
the money for the expansion, and they
didn't understand fully how the 'especially
needy' school designation
would work to help them. So we arranged
for them to meet with State
Department of Education representatives,
who explained all the details.
6
"When city school officials fully understood
the reimbursement procedures,
they agreed to work to establish
the program in all city schools.
By last November, the city began
bringing in the new schools, and by
this April, we expect all 90 public
schools to be participating in the
program."
Ms. Zang said that by bringing the
new schools in, the city made the
program available to an additional
36,000 needy children. She said the
staff hopes to carry out the same type
of activities in other areas of the State.
At the national level, Barbara Zang
said that currently the National Child
Nutrition Project is in the process of
selecting three States in which to
target its breakfast outreach activities.
It will employ two people in each State
who will first establish broadly based
State breakfast coalitions. These
coalitions will decide where the need
is greatest for the program, get the
facts on why the program isn't operating,
and work to organize community
support.
• Anne Meadows, Director of the
School Food Advocacy Project of the
Children's Foundation, said her
organization provides information,
technical assistance, organizing help,
and guidance to groups that want to
establish the breakfast program. The
Foundation's national office is in
Washington, D.C., but the foundation
currently also has two regional offices
in Atlanta and in Santa Fe.
Anne Meadows recently visited 1 0
States where she interviewed people
associated with the breakfast program.
She wanted to learn about the
barriers to the program and to discuss
with local people how these
might be overcome. She talked to
cafeteria managers, parents, school
board members, State and local
school food service directors, principals,
superintendents, and others.
"I found," said Meadows, "that the
barriers really aren't insurmountable.
If the school district agrees with the
idea that school breakfast is ultimately
part of the learning process-then it
will probably succeed in starting the
program."
Based on what she learned in these
interviews, Meadows is now preparing
a report on school breakfast barriers
and how communities have overcome
them. The Children's Foundation expects
to publish the report this spring.
The report will make recommendations
on how to make the program
easier to operate and more attractive
to school districts.
After the study is published, the
foundation will select target areas and
try out different strategies for overcoming
barriers to the program.
"We've learned," Anne Meadows
said, "that the particular strategy you
use in a community is dictated by the
barrier to the program there. For example,
where an administration is not
opposed to school breakfast, but just
hasn't given it any thought, simply
providing information may be all that's
needed. But in another district, where
the school board is against the
program, parents and interested
groups must be organized to convince
the board of the program's benefit.
"We work with a wide variety of
groups," she said. "On the one hand,
we may work with statewide antihunger
coalitions and on the other
hand we may work with individual
parents who have heard about the
program but don't know much about
organizing. We provide assistance to
meet their needs.
"In some cases, this is as simple as
sending information on the program.
In others, Children's Foundation staff
members may need to help local
groups prepare their presentation on
the breakfast program for a school
board meeting.
"Some of our work is more long
range. In one of the largest school districts
in one Western State, we found
resistance to the program at the
school administration level, despite
widespread need and desire for the
program in the community. After
nearly 2 years of 'friendly persuasion'
failed to produce results, we circulated
a petition among the community
to document support of the
program. When 70 percent of the students
and parents responded favorably,
the school district superintendent
reluctantly agreed to start
the program."
Summing up her work on breakfast,
she said, "The School Food Advocacy
Project sees its primary constituents
as those children who sit in
their morning classes-as one principal
we interviewed so eloquently put
it-'under the influence of hunger.' "
By Michael McAteer
Food and Nutrition
April 1978
Su1n1ner Food Progra1n
Expanded In Rural Areas
In past years, the Summer Food
Program has operated primarily in
urban areas, but this year the Food
and Nutrition Service is launching an
outreach project to expand the
program to more rural areas.
In accordance with Public Law 95-
166, the child nutrition legislation
enacted in November, ENS is equiring
States to identify ural areas ih
need of sum mer food program , an
to solicit and assis Ji>Otential sponsor
in the.s areas.
"We're trying, to reach needy ch'ld
en living in mal iQdustrial towns,
..-lnl'lllrvc i1dreh of migrant wof-!<ers and
sh'a ecroppers, cJ d other needy
ldten not living in urban areas,"
~~:ire.~'M ,Jack Heslin, Food Program Ofing
on the S mmer Food
FNS will
report
FNS will be monitorililj , 20 sl;immer
food program project sites i(l r.pwincome
rural counties this spmmer
and will compile a report base~ on the
evaluations of these project si· es.
Sponsors wifl use his report to assist
them in operating lie program more
effectively in rural areaS, in the future.
Organizations interested in sponsoring
the Summer Food Program
should contact the State Dena•rtm .. nt
of Eoucatl~n in their State.
~ MarilYn Stackhouse
7
One County's
Combined
Food Program
A Pennsylvania
County
Reorganizes
Its Food
Programs
It was a simple idea. And a good
one. Bring together people from all
the different agencies providing food
and nutrition services to residents of
Lancaster County. Get them to sit
down, come up with some common
goals, and reorganize their efforts to
meet those goals.
Agency overlap would be a thing
of the past. And, without duplication
of effort, money and manpower could
be used more effectively to extend
needed services to the county's
49,000 low-income residents.
In 1975, Lancaster County's Community
Food and Nutrition Program
was just an ambitious proposal submitted
to the Community Services
Administration. Today, after many
months of planning and lots of hard
work, the program is fully operational.
Its success has generated in-
8
terest in other Pennsylvania counties
as well as in counties In other States.
The key to Lancaster's new program
is that one agency provides
overall direction for food and nutrition
activities. While various county
agencies still provide individual services,
the coordinating agency has
general responsibility for program
management and outreach.
In putting together their coordinated
program, the people in Lancaster
not only reorganized existing
services, but added some innovative
new services as well. For example,
the county established three cooperative
buying clubs where lowand
moderate-income families can
purchase quality foods inexpensively.
The clubs accept cash or food
stamps and serve as nutrition education
centers as well as stores. The
county also has three community gardens
and a canning center.
Outreach workers report that the
new services are gaining support in
the community. Besides helping people
stretch their food dollars, the
clubs, gardens and canning center
have helped lessen the isolation
some county residents feel. Senior
citizens in particular have benefited
from the companionship the activitiei
offer.
The following five-part feature
gives more details on Lancaster's
Combined Food and Nutrition Program.
The first section explains how
county planners organized the
program. The second describes the
outreach system which is essential to
the combined services concept. And
the last three sections tell how the
county runs the buying clubs and
other special services.
Food and Nutrition
,,
I
Getting the
program
started
11he fi st efforts to organize the new
pro ra began in the summer of
19 , wi h a series of weekly meetings
ch~red by Doris Thomas, home
eco om st for Pennsylvania State
\:Jniversi ' Cooperative Extension
ervice.
The meetings included representatives
from seven other agenciesthe
State Health Department, the Lancaster
Community Action Program
(CAP), the County Board of Assistance,
the Council of Churches, the
Visiting Nurses' Association, the Office
of Aging, and the City Bureau of
Health.
"We started by brainstorming on
what we should be accomplishing,"
Doris Thomas recalls. The group
worked first to identify target populations
and communities, then explored
various atlernatives that might meet
the needs of those populations. The
group came up with 38 goals in all and
began matching them to individual
programs.
Looked for
duplication
By taking a close look at what each
agency was already doing, task force
members singled out areas where
they could eliminate duplication.
They came up with some interesting
solutions. For example, Penn
State Extension Service agreed to
phase out its involvement in transportation,
so that all transportation
provided to low-income persons
would be consolidated under CAP.
Both Penn State and CAP consented
to cut down on their involvement in
emergency food provisions, turning
this responsibility over to the Council
of Churches, which was operating the
food banks.
The Community Food and Nutrition
Program began to take shape. The
Community Action Agency would take
on the overall responsibility, with the
April 1978
other Task Force agencies playing
key supporting roles.
The resulting program, today, is a
multi-agency effort, directed by Community
Action staff member Beth
Hopkins. The operation is divided into
three major areas of responsibilityoutreach,
buying clubs, and special
projects. Each area has its own director,
also a member of the CAP staff.
According to Beth Hopkins, the arrangement
works well. When people
in other agencies have questions or
problems in a particular area, they
know exactly whom to call. This is
helpful in all the areas, says Hopkins,
but especially in outreach, where
referrals are so important.
"We all work together," the program
director says. "If another task
force agency comes across a family
which may be in need of food help, the
staff calls us. We, in turn, make referrals
to other agencies. For example, if
a family needs special nutrition
counseling, we'll call the Extension
Service, or, if there are health problems,
we'll call the State Health Department
or a county health agency.
"The referral system is one of the
real strong points of the combined
program," Hopkins says.
Outreach
is the key
e ce tral gure in the Community
Food a N rition Program's ac-tivitie
IS t outreach worker. The
Stat as ix outreach workers-two
ar assigne to o city outreach, three
ork I :h co nty's rural areas, and
ne works as a trouble-shooter helping"
famlttes It special problems.
Mimi Picciano is one of the three
rural outreach workers. A native of
upstate New York, Ms. Picciano has
lived in Lancaster County for 15 years.
She's been an outreach worker since
November 1976 and loves her work.
Mimi Picciano spends most of her
time in the county's southern end trying
to locate low-income residents in
need of food stamp assistance.
She visits the homes of people
referred to her by other task force
agencies. She also goes from doorto-
door, explaining the program and
asking questions to determine if people
qualify. If this prescreening shows
that a family might be eligible, Ms.
Picciano sets up an appointment at
the welfare office and sometimes accompanies
the family to the food
stamp interview. She keeps in contact
with families that join the program to
make sure everything is going well
and that they get recertified when the
time comes.
In her work with families, Ms. Picciano
makes sure they understand
how they can benefit from all county
food and nutrition services. She arranges
visits to the cannery or the
nearest buying club and also makes
arrangements for families to meet
with Penn State nutrition aides.
Sees about
50 families
Ms. Picciano works with about 50
families a month. Many are working
people who are temporarily unemployed.
Others are disabled or
retired and living on limited fixed
incomes.
In the rural southern end of Lancaster,
people are very isolated, according
to Mimi. She says people
always seem glad to have a visitor,
and they appreciate hearing about the
different community food and nutrition
programs.
Some need special encouragement
to take part in the programs. Senior
citizens, in particular, need extra
coaxing to get out and make contact
with other people again. Ms. Picciano
says she has seen how the projects
can reduce the geographical and personal
isolation people feel, so she
persists with friendly and gentle
persuasion.
Mimi Picciano is proud of the way
Lancaster has coordinated its new
program to attack related problems.
"It really is satisfying to know that in at
9
least one area-food-families are a
little better off," she says.
Buying clubs:
food and
information
er Community Food
and N trition rogram sponsors buying
clu s · th ee communitiesancaster,
ual'iryville, and Columbia.
!though tile clubs are targeted for
t e ar a low- ncome residents,
an ne ma "oin. Membership is $3 a
year per amily, and the money helps
defray operating costs.
The clubs are cooperative efforts.
Members have total say on what
merchandise is stocked, and what the
hours of operation will be. They are
responsible for the club's expenses.
All three buying clubs are open all
day on Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday. The Quarryville club is also
open 5 hours on Saturday. The clubs
stock canned goods, staples, fresh
produce, eggs, lunch meats, cheese,
frozen fish and juices, and other items
members request.
The program pays the salaries of
the buying club supervisor, and the
three club managers. Otherwise the
clubs are self-supporting.
"We're pleased about that," says
Community Food and Nutrition Program
director Beth Hopkins. "That's
the whole philosophy-for the clubs to
be self-supporting. The Community
Services Administration is not going
to keep funding us year after year.
"But right now, in order to pay the
managers' salaries, we'd have to mark
things up so high it wouldn't save people
any money to shop at the clubs."
Getting the
best price
Merchandise is now marked up
only 1 0 percent over the wholesale
cost. The buying club supervisor,
Deborah Stewart, negotiates with suppliers
to get the best price on items.
Then each of the managers places in-
10
dividual orders according to the
needs and wishes of their clientele.
The managers also make their own
deals with suppliers, especially when
ordering fresh goods. Sometimes
they go in on a deal together if one
locates a good bargain.
Club facilities are centrally located,
bright and attractive, and similar in
appearance to a "Mom and Pop"
grocery store.
"We want low-income people to
have a store like any other storerather
than having something in a
church basement, or something that
might not be first rate," explains Beth
Hopkins.
Buying club members are kept well
informed through a club newsletter
and are urged to read labels for nutrition
content. Members are also encouraged
to volunteer their time, if
possible, to assist in the club's nonprofit
operation.
Although the structure and operation
of the clubs are similar, each club
has unique features making it tailormade
for the community it serves.
The Columbia
buying club
The first buying club opened in
Columbia in February 1976. Although
the building had previously been used
as a cooperative store, it took a while
for the club to catch on with residents.
Columbia buying club organizer
Steve Keller, who has a degree in
community development from Penn
State, describes the reluctance of lowincome
Columbians: "Columbia used
to be a thriving railroad center, and
the people here have a lot of pride."
Although Columbia is experiencing
harder times today, he says, town
residents retain their image of it as a
prospering locale and are not enthusiastic
over CAP-sponsored programs.
Keller's club has 150
members. About 30 families shop
there often.
In spite of the club's low prices Keller
finds that many residents still
prefer "one-stop-shopping" at the
nearby supermarket. The manager
hopes a recent move to a better location
will increase club business.
Beth Hopkins says Steve Keller's
personality has won the club many
"regulars," especially among the
area's elderly people. In fact, senior
citizens make up a good portion of the
club's membership.
The Quarryville
buying club
The second club opened in October
1976 in Quarryville, a town in the
county's rural southern end. There,
people live very far apart and have no
large grocery chains at which to shop.
Quarryville club manager Jim Barrett
gets along well with his conservative,
rural clientele, who find his
enthusiasm infectious and his ability
to stock "good buys" reliable.
Barrett built all the store's shelves,
bins, and counters himself. He also
"built" the club's membership by
knocking on doors to encourage residents
to join. In less than a year, the
club boasted 205 members, 55 who
shop there regularly. Food sales are
around $2000 a month.
In Quarryville, as in Columbia, there
are many items the buying club cannot
stock. Re-educating shoppers to
"two-stop shop" is hard work.
"What I try to do," Jim Barrett explains,
"is to tell people when they
join: Listen, I can save you some real
dollars on your groceries. But you're
going to have to change your habits a
little. You'll have to come here and
shop first, and then go wherever else
you shop."
'rhe Lancaster
City club
The newest club to open is in the
city of Lancaster itself. Nearly half of
the buying club's 250 members are
Spanish-speaking, and many are
senior citizens from nearby lowincome
apartment complexes.
Located in the same building as the
office for the Combined Food and
Nutrition Program staff, the buying
Food and Nutrition
..
club is at the hub of much activity.
A bilingual member of the buying
club assists Spanish-speaking members,
and the club stocks many food
items that are favorites of the
Spanish-speaking clientele. Food
stamp outreach materials and nutrition
education pamphlets are available
in English and in Spanish.
Nutrition education
an important part
All three buying clubs offer shoppers
a variety of free informational
materials. In addition, shoppers can
get help with meal planning and
budgeting from Penn State nutrition
aides, who visit the clubs regularly.
Bernice Wright, a nutrition aide for
the county extension office, is a frequent
visitor to the Lancaster buying
club. Ms. Wright has worked for 6
April 1978
years in the Expanded Nutrition
Education Program, counseling families
on a one-to-one basis in their
homes as well as in community
centers, such as the buying club.
These days, many of the families are
referred by city outreach workers.
In working ·with low-income families,
Ms. Wright finds that the biggest
problem for many people is
budgeting. She encourages them to
plan menus on a weekly basis, and
shows them how to do this. She also
helps people with shopping, sometimes
accompanying them through
the store as they make their selections.
She also explains how to comparison
shop and take advantage of
the seasonal good buys and competitive
prices.
Like the buying club managers,
Bernice Wright is encouraging people
to change their shopping habits so
they can get the most nutrition out of
the money they spend. She feels it's
an important part of any nutrition
education effort, and an important
part of the comprehensive approach
to helping families improve their diets.
Community
gardens
La caster ounty's community garde
pr ·act got underway last spring
w· a oung social worker named Ella
ew Wanger searching for suitable
sites. A "suitaole" site had to be easy
r low-incom eople to get to, and
free. s Ne tSwanger found three.
The largest si e was in the Borough
of Manetta, not'far from the Columbia
Buying Club. An elementary school
agreed to contribute a corner of its
land, and a local farmer offered to
plow it free of charge.
According to Ms. Newswanger, the
farmer's generosity was typical of the
community's reaction to the garden
project. "I had a 1 00 percent positive
response from people," she says.
"They donated goods as well as services.
Thanks to eager volunteers, the
garden shed was up in just 4 hours!"
Even the Marietta Fire Company
got into the act, agreeing to water the
garden with their fire hoses.
Enlisting
gardeners
The next step was finding families
interested in participating in the project.
Ella Newswanger had divided the
garden into 32, 20- by 40-foot plots,
and she was hoping to enlist enough
families to cultivate all of them.
To drum up business, she handed
out flyers, visited low-income neighborhoods,
put up posters in laundromats,
and personally contacted people
referred to her by CAP and Office
of Aging outreach workers.
Personal contact turned out to be
the most effective method of advertising.
Though time-consuming, it
achieved the desired results. Twenty
families signed up-19 of them were
low-income families.
Families paid for the plots according
to income. The regular cost
was $4 per plot; however, families with
incomes under the poverty guidelines
paid only $2, as a deposit. If they took
care of their plots, they got a full refund
at the end of the season.
Fertilizer was included in the rental
price, and plants and seeds offered at
a nominal charge. "I was able to buy
plants, such as tomato plants wholesale-
so the gardeners could get
them for about 5 cents a plant," Ms.
Newswanger explains.
One gardener's
experience
One satisfied gardener at Marietta
was a retired farmer, Linden Beastan.
Gesturing shyly toward his neatly kept
plot, he murmured, "Mine turned out
pretty good, didn't it?"
Mr. Beastan was living with his married
son when he first contacted Ms.
Newswanger. With time on his hands
and no room at home to grow anything,
Mr. Beastan liked the idea of
the community garden.
"The garden was a good way for
11
him to keep busy," Ms. Newswanger
says, adding that Beastan visited his
plot every day or two.
The garden plot was also a good
way for Mr. Beastan to contribute to
members of his extended family, who
live on a very limited income. By midAugust
Mr. Beastan had harvested
over 5 bushels of beans, as well as a
hearty crop of tomatoes, peppers,
and other vegetables.
"I'd like to have two plots next
year," Mr. Beastan told Ella Newswanger,
with pride.
Most of the gardeners at the community
garden sites have a lot in common
with Mr. Beastan, according to
the project director. Like Mr. Beastan
most have had some gardening experience
but have no space available.
"They're families trying to raise vege-
12
tables to freeze or can so they can
save on their food bills," she explains.
Organization
is the key
Ms. Newswanger writes a newsletter
to keep in touch with the gardeners.
She estimates that half of
them do not have telephones. The
gardeners get the "Garden News"
every 2 weeks in the summer and
once a month in the winter.
Getting a community garden started
is mainly a matter of planning,
organization, a little resourcefulness,
Ella Newswanger contends. She's
convinced her experience in community
organization has been more
valuable than her gardening skills.
Food and Nutrition
Marietta
Community
Canning
Center
Community Canning
.. ..,.,,.,.,.,.,t special service
unity Food and
m. It opened in July
five-a supervisor, and
four workers. (CET A is a Department
of Labor training program
set up by the Comprehensive Employment
and Training Act.)
The canning center is for all Lancaster
County residents, but there are
special incentives for low-income
residents to use the facilities. Families
with incomes under the poverty
guidelines can use the center free of
charge, and they do not have to pay
for jars, which are donated by the
Council of Churches.
Families with incomes above the
poverty guidelines buy or bring their
own jars. They pay a service charge of
10 cents per quart, 5 cents per pint,
and 7 cents per 2 half pints.
Complete with the latest equipment,
the center has a friendly staff on
hand to make the canning process
fun, safe, and fast-even for beginners.
Worth the
hard work
"Canning is work, but it's worth it,"
reports John Kops, one of the canning
center's first patrons. Mr. Kops is 71
and lives alone. His sole income is a
monthly social security check. He first
heard about the canning center from
his outreach worker Mimi Picciano,
and decided he would give it a try.
With the help of supervisor Maxine
Kress and her staff, Mr. Kops' first
canning experience-canning green
beans-was a successful and enjoyable
experience for him. He has
returned many times to the Marietta
Center and has become an accomplished
canner.
Whether they are novices or experienced
canners, people are quick-
April 1978
ly sold on the center, Ms. Kress says.
"People find that canning at the center
can be done in less than half the time
it would take at home," she explains.
"You can walk in with a bushel of apples,
and, in 3 hours, walk out with
jars of applesauce. And you go home
to your own clean kitchen."
Benefits from
community support
The canning center has benefited
greatly from community support.
Local farmers frequently donate food
to be canned and distributed to needy
clients. The center also gets food from
co-op garden supervisor Ella Newswanger,
who plants and cultivates any
leftover plots.
Sometimes Maxine Kress notifies
families that fresh produce is available,
and they come in and can the
food themselves. "I have a referral list
of people who could use the food,"
Ms. Kress explains.
Like the other community food and
nutrition programs, the canning center
offers food help in a variety of
ways. It also offers companionship.
"Most of the people like the fact that
there are people here to help them,
and people to talk to," says Maxine
Kress. She hopes that word-of-mouth
recommendations will increase the
number of visitors to the centerespecially
low-income visitors.
Food stamps
are the focus
t:le iFeGt{i)rs of the Community
ood and Nu rition Program (CFNP)
e ort that th buying clubs, community
gardens, and canning center
have sparked the interest of the
media. While local newspapers and
radio and television stations have
tended to shy away from the Food
Stamp Program, which is more controversial
in the county, they have
readily featured stories on buying
clubs bargains and activities at the
canning center.
However, according to the CFNP
staff, food stamps remain the single
best way of improving the nutritional
level of Lancaster's low-income residents.
Says outreach supervisor Debra
Shaw, "I still see food stamps as our
major focus because that program
brings the most benefits in dollars.
People can't eat a nutritious meal if
they don't have the money to buy it."
Helpful in
outreach
Sometimes the supplemental services
have also been helpful in encouraging
people to join the Food
Stamp Program. Ms. Shaw says this is
especially true of senior citizens, who
are often reluctant to shop with food
stamps.
"I tell them to go to the buying club,
where I know they will feel comfortable
and where they will get extra
help if they need it," says Ms. Shaw.
"Many find the idea appealing."
At the buying clubs and at all the
other CFNP activities, people are
treated with respect and dignity. It's
not surprising they keep coming back.
by Carol McLaughlin
13
Index
1977 ·
A
A County Saves Its Lunch Program .. . ........... .. June 1977
Alabama
WIC: Health Officials See Valuable
"Spin-Offs" ... . ... . ... . . . . .. . .. . . . ... . .. Feb. 1977
Alaska
WIC And Nutrition Education ... . ..... . . ... . . Aug. 1977
A Look At One County's (WIC) Program . ... . .. . .. Feb. 1977
An Indiana School Starts A Student (lunch)
Committee ... .. . . ..... . . .. .... ... . . .. . .. . . Aug. 1977
An Interview With Lew Straus .... . . . ......... . . . Aug. 1977
Arizona
WIC And Nutrition Education . . .. ... . . . .. . .. . Aug. 1977
Arkansas
A Look At One County's (WIC) Program ... . .. Feb. 1977
8
Breakfast At School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb. 1977
A Continuing Success At Northern Bedford
Two New Programs Get Underway
Building A WIC Program .. .. .... .. . .. .. . ...... . . Dec. 1977 c
California
Breakfast At School: Two New Programs
Get Underway . . ..... . . .. ..... .. . . . .. . .. . Feb. 1977
WIC And Nutrition Education . ... . . . ... . .. . .. Aug. 1977
Chicago Coalition Operates A Food Stamp Hotline .. June 1977
Child Care Food Program
Training For School Food Service . . . . ..... ... Feb. 1977
Computer Systems
Connecticut Computerizes WIC Operations .. .. June 1977
Connecticut
Connecticut Computerizes WIC Operations ... . June 1977
WIC And Nutrition Education: Connecticut
Staffs Share Ideas .. .. ..... . . . ... . ..... . . Aug. 1977
WIC: Health Officials See Valuable
"Spin-Offs" . . . .. . ... . .. . .. .. ... .. ..... . . Feb. 1977
Connecticut Computerizes WIC Operations .. . . . .. . June 1977
E
Elderly
Food For Life .. ... .. .. ........ . .... . . .. ... Apr. 1977
Girl Scouts Seek Out The Elderly In Kentucky .. June 1977
New Food Stamp Legislation . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . Oct. 1977
Extension Service
WIC And Nutrition Education .. . .. . .. . ... . ... Aug. 1977
F
Families Garden Cooperatively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec. 1977
Food Distribution Program
Breakfast At School: A Continuing Success
At Northern Bedford ..... . .. . . . .... . . . ... Feb. 1977
Food For Life .. .. . .. .. . . .. . . ... . . ..... .... Apr. 1977
Food For Life .......... .... . ..... . . . . . .. ... . .. Apr. 1977
Food Stamp Outreach . . . .. . .. . . . . .. . .... ... . .. . June 1977
Food Stamp Program
14
An Interview With Lew Straus .. . ... ... . . . . . . Aug. 1977
Families Garden Cooperatively ..... . .. . .... .. Dec. 1977
Food Stamp Outreach . . ... . . .. . . .. .. . . . .. . . June 1977
Chicago Coalition Operates A Food Stamp
Hotline
County Workers In Mississippi Travel In
Marked Cars
Girl Scouts Seek Out Elderly In Kentucky
Kansas Has A Mobile Van That Visits
Rural Areas
Kentucky Staff Presents A Puppet Show
North Carolina Volunteers Talk To Food
Store Customers
South Carolina Uses Specially Designed
Posters
Minnesota's Food Stamp Center .. .. ... .... . . Dec. 1977
New Food Stamp Legislation . .... .. ..... .. ... ... Oct. 1977
G
Georgia
Georgia Has A School Lunch Heart Week ... . . Dec. 1977
Summer Food Service For Children . . . . .. . .. . Apr. 1977
Georgia Has A School Lunch Heart Week .. . . . . . .. Dec. 1977
Girl Scouts Seek Out The Elderly In Kentucky . . . ... June 1977
H
Hawaii
WIC And Nutrition Education . ....... ..... . . . June 1977
Health Officials See Valuable (WIC) "Spin-Offs" .... Feb. 1977
I, K, L
Idaho
WIC And Nutrition Education . . . .. . ... . . .. . . . Aug. 1977
Illinois
A Chicago Coalition Operates A Food Stamp
Hotline . .. . . . . . .. ... .. .. .... ..... .. .. ... June 1977
Indiana
An Indiana School Starts A Student (Lunch)
Committee ... . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . .... . . . . . . Aug. 1977
Indians
New Food Stamp Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct. 19.77
Kansas
Kansas Has A Mobile Van
That Visits Rural Areas . ....... . . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. . June 1977
Kentucky
Kentucky Staff Presents A Puppet Show .... . . June 1977
Legislation
New Choice System For Senior Highs . . . . .. . . June 1977
New Food Stamp Legislation .. . . .. .. . .. . .. . . Oct. 1977
Lunches Kids Like .... .. . . ...... . . ... ..... . .. . . Aug. 1977
Lunch Patterns Proposed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct. 1977
M,N,O
Maine
Training For School Food Service .. . . . .. ..... Feb. 1977
Maryland
Summer Food Service For Children . .. . . .. .. . Apr. 1977
Massachusetts
New Collection System Saves Time,
Avoids Hassles . ...... .. . .. . . . . .. . . . .. ... Dec. 1977
Senior High Schools Offer More Choice .. . . . . . June 1977
Meal Patterns
Lunches Kids Like . . .. . . .. .... .. . . . .. . ... . . Aug. 1977
Lunch Patterns Proposed ... . .... . . . .... ... . Oct. 1977
New Serving Systems Get Results ... .. . ..... . Apr. 1977
Senior High Schools Offer More Choice ... .. . . June 1977
Michigan
Senior High Schools Offer More Choice .. . .. . . June 1977
Mississippi
County Workers In Mississippi Travel
In Marked Cars (FSP) .... . . . . .... . . . . . ... June 1977
Minnesota
Minnesota's Food Stamp Center . . . ... . .. . ... Dec. 1977
Food and Nutrition
1'
New Choice System For Senior Highs ... ... . . ...... June 1977
New Food Stamp Legislation .. .. . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . Oct. 1977
New Hampshire
Training For School Food Service .. .. . . . .... . Feb. 1977
New Jersey
New Jersey District Has "Taste-Test" Days .... Aug. 1977
State Coordinator Addresses Local Concerns . . June 1977
Training For School Food Service . . ... .. . .... Feb. 1977
New Mexico
New Serving Systems Get Results .... ....... . Apr. 1977
Senior High Schools Offer More Choice ..... . . June 1977
New Serving Systems Get Results ... . .. . . .. .. .. .. Apr. 1977
New York
Families Garden Cooperatively ... ...... .. .... Dec. 1977
Food For Life . .... . ... .... . . . ... . ..... .... . . .. Apr. 1977
North Carolina
North Carolina Volunteers Talk To Food
Store Customers . . ..... ... .. . .. .. . .... .. June 1977
Senior High Schools Offer More Choice . . ... .. June 1977
Nutrition Education
A County Saves Its Lunch Program ..... .. . .. June 1977
Breakfast At School . ..... .. . . ... . . ....... .. Feb. 1977
Building A WIC Program . .. . . .. . . . . .. .. . .. . . Dec. 1977
Georgia Has A School Lunch Heart Week .. . .. Dec. 1977
New Food Stamp Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct. 1977
Tennessee Managers Take Their Message
To The Public . . . . . ... . . .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. . Dec. 1977
Training For School Food Service .. .. . . .... . . Aug. 1977
WIC And Nutrition Education .. .. . . .. . .... .. . Feb. 1977
WIC: The Special Supplemental Food Program
For Women, Infants, And Children .. . ..... . Feb. 1977
Ohio
New Serving Systems Get Results .. . . . ... .. .. Apr. 1977
Oregon
WIC And Nutrition Educaion ..... . . .. . . ..... . Aug. 1977
Outreach
An Interview With Lew Straus .. .. .. . . ... ... . Aug. 1977
Food Stamp Outreach .... .. .... . . . ... . ... . . June 1977
New Food Stamp Legislation . .. .. .. .. . . . .. . . Oct. 1977
Summer Food Service For Children . . .... . ... Apr. 1977
Training For School Food Service .. .. . . . ... .. Feb. 1977
p
Pennsylvania
Breakfast: A Continuing Success At
Northern Bedford . .... ... . .. . ... ... . . . . . . Feb. 1977
Plate Waste
Lunches Kids Like . . .. .... .. ... . .. . . . .. ... . Aug. 1977
Lunch Patterns Proposed .. . .. . . .. . ... .. .. .. Oct. 1977 s
School Breakfast Program
An Interview With Lew Straus . ... .. .. . . . .. . . Aug. 1977
Breakfast At School . ... . . . ... ... . .. . . . . . .. . Feb. 1977
A Continuing Success At Northern Bedford
Two New Programs Get Underway
Training For School Food Service . . . .. ... . . . . Feb. 1977
Summer Food Program
Training For School Food Service . ..... . . . . . . Feb. 1977
Summer Food Service For Children . . . . .. . ... Apr. 1977
School Lunch And Health ... . ... ... . ..... . . .. . .. Dec. 1977
School Lunch Program
A County Saves Its Lunch Program . . . .. ... . . June 1977
An Indiana School Starts A Student
Committee . .. . ... ...... . .... .. .... . .. . . Aug. 1977
An Interview With Lew Straus . .. . ..... . . .... Aug. 1977
Georgia Has A School Lunch Heart Week . . . .. Dec. 1977
Lunches Kids Like . ... .. .. .. ... . . .. . ....... Aug. 1977
Lunch Patterns Proposed . . .. .. . .. . . .. . . . .. . Oct. 1977
New Collection System Saves Time, Avoids
Hassles . .. . .... . . . ... .. . .. . .... .. .. .. .. Dec. 1977
April 1978
New Jersey District Has "Taste-Test" Days .. .. Aug. 1977
New Serving Systems Get Results . . .. . ... .. .. Apr. 1977
School Lunch And Health . . . .... . . . . ..... . . . Dec. 1977
Senior High Schools Offer More Choice . . .. . .. June 1977
Solving Lunch Problems . . .. . .... . . . .. . . . ... Dec. 1977
Summer Food Service For Children . . .. ..... . Apr. 1977
Tennessee Managers Take Their Message
To The Public . . . . .. .... . .. . . . . . .... . . . .. Dec. 1977
Training For School Food Service .. .... . .... . Feb. 1977
Virginia Schools Take Part In A Nationwide
Project .. . . .... . ..... .. . ..... . .. . .. .... . Aug. 1977
Workshops Bring People Together . . . .. . . . . . . Dec. 1977
Senior High Schools Offer More Choice .. . . ... . . . . June 1977
Solving Lunch Problems .. .. ... . ..... . . . .. . . . . . . Dec. 1977
South Carolina
South Carolina Uses Specially
Designed Posters .. ... .. . .. . . ... .. .. . .... June 1977
Summer Food Service For Children .. . . ...... Apr. 1977
South Dakota
Training For School Food Service .. . ... .. . . . . Feb. 1977
Special Supplemental Food Program For
Women, Infants, And Children
Building A WIC Program .. . . ... . .......... . . Dec. 1977
Connecticut Computerizes WIC Operations . .. . June 1977
WIC And Nutrition Education .. . . .. . . . ... . . .. Aug. 1977
WIC: The Special Supplemental Food Program
For Women, Infants, And Children .. . ... . .. Feb. 1977
Student/Community Involvement ·
An Indiana School Starts A Student (Lunch)
Committee . . .. .. . ... ..... . . . . .. . .. . .. .. Aug. 1977
Breakfast At School ... .. . . . . . . . . . ... . . ... .. Feb. 1977
Lunch Patterns Proposed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct. 1977
New Jersey Has "Taste-Test" Days .. .. . ..... . Aug. 1977
Virginia Schools Take Part In A
Nationwide Project . ... .. ... . . ... .. . . . .... Aug. 1977
T
Tennessee
A County Saves Its Lunch Program .. .. . ... . . June 1977
Tennessee Managers Take Their Message
To The Public . ... . .. .. . . . .. . . . .. . ..... .. Dec. 1977
Texas
Student Committee Explains The New
(Lunch) System . . .. ... . . ... . .. . ....... .. June 1977
Train ing For School Food Service .. . .. ... . .. ..... Feb. 1977 v
Virginia
Building A WIC Program ...... . . . . .. .. .. .... Dec. 1977
Virgin ia Schools Take Part In A Nationwide
Project . . ... .. . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . .. . ...... . Aug. 1977 w
Washington
WIC And Nutrition Education . ... ... ... .. . ... Aug. 1977
Western State Coordinators Get Special Training . .. Aug. 1977
WIC And Nutrition Education .... .... . .. . . . ... .. . Aug. 1977
WIC: The Special Supplemental Food Program For
Women, Infants, And Children .. . .... .. .. . .. .. . Feb. 1977
WIC Program
Building A WIC Program . . . .. ...... . ... . . ... Dec. 1977
Connecticut Computerizes WIC Operations ... . June 1977
WIC And Nutrition Education ...... .. ... .. . .. Aug. 1977
WIC: The Special Supplemental Food Program
For Women, Infants, And Children . . . .... . . Feb. 1977
Workshops Bring People Together . . . .. . . . . .... ... Dec. 1977
Wyoming
Train ing For School Food Service .. . ... .. . ... Feb. 1977
15
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
D1v1S1on ol Publ1c Documents. Washington. DC 20402
OH1c1al Busmess
Penalty for Pnvate Use. $300
Published six times a year by the Food
and Nutrition Service. U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250.
Bob Bergland
Secretary of Agriculture
Carol Tucker Foreman
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
Lewis B. Straus
Administrator
Food and Nutrition Service
Jan Kern, Editor
Johna L Pierce, Assistant Editor
Kristina Jorgensen, Art Director
Yearly subscription: $4.00 domestic,
$5.00 foreign. Single copies 70 cents
each. Subscription orders should be sent
to the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington,
D. C. 20402.
The Secretary of Agriculture has determined
that the publication of this periodical
is necessary in the transaction of the
public business required by law of this
Department. The use of funds for printing
this publication has been approved by the
Director of the Office of Management
and Budget through September 30, 1978.
Prints of photos may be obtained from
Photo Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C. 20250.
All programs of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture are available to everyone
without regard to race, creed, color, sex
or national origin.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
POSTAGE
& FEES PAID
U.S. DEPT.
OF
AGRICULTURE
AGR 101
THIRD CLASS BLK. RT.
PERMIT NUMBER .005-5
