Latest news with #MikeLawson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Summer Food Service Program a big success in first year for Augusta County Public Schools
Shawn Baska and his Augusta County school nutrition program team got a shoutout at the most recent school board meeting on Aug. 7. South River representative Mike Lawson spoke at the end of the meeting during school board member reports, thanking the school division for providing food to children through the Summer Food Service Program, known as SUN Meals. It was the first time Augusta County used the program that is federally funded through the United States Department of Agriculture. "I want to congratulate Shawn Baska for coordinating that," Lawson said. "That went really well. Hopefully we'll be able to expand that next year depending on funding." The program originally was going to be offered at just three schools in Augusta County — Wilson Memorial High School, Riverheads Middle School and Buffalo Gap High School. But Baska, in his first year as the school nutrition program supervisor, said his office started working with the Augusta County Library and the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth and was able to expand the locations where the meals were available. In addition to the school locations, meals were available at the Verona Volunteer Fire Department, the Stuarts Draft Volunteer Fire Department and the Craigsville Library Station. Baska thanked Staunton City School's Amanda Warren for connecting him with the library, saying Warren had used the library in the past for a similar program. Meal kits were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, at the sites. Kits included five breakfasts and five lunches that were available for any children in a family up to 18 years old. Throughout June, Baska said the school division served 28,300 meals. "We're very happy with how it went for our first year," Baska said. Since this was a new program and it was Baska's first year, coming into the position after being principal at Stump Elementary, Augusta County decided to only operate the program in June. Baska is already looking on ways to expand the program into July next summer. "There's a need," Lawson said at the school board meeting. "And it's much appreciated by the community." Baska said providing the food to students over the summer is exteremly important. "For one, over the summer, it gives us a chance to lay eyes on the kids," Baska said. "We don't get to see them a lot throughout the summer. But knowing they've had a healthy summer to eat, a healthy foundation when they come back to school, It's important. That's a basic need, having your food needs met. I'm a believer that, until we get those basic needs met, it's hard to get them to learn, to educate them." Augusta County, along with Staunton and Waynesboro, are offering free meals to students this school year also. "What our nutrition staff does, they can't be thanked enough for that," Baska said. "They're kind of behind the scenes but without them, without kids being able to eat, getting something in their bellies before they go into class, kids aren't going to be able to learn. All they're going to be thinking about is how hungry they are. That partnership we have within the schools, I think that's where it starts and then it goes from there into the classrooms." More: $348M Mega Millions jackpot from ticket sold in Burgess, Virginia, in June is claimed More: Stuarts Draft 88-acre rezoning recommended by Augusta planning commission Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips are always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@ and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Augusta County finds success in inaugural Summer Food Service Program Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rio Rancho veteran and his family receive mortgage free home
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a once-in-a-lifetime surprise for a retired Army sergeant and his family. Sergeant Mike Lawson spent nearly a decade with the army as a combat engineer with deployments across the Middle East. And on Wednesday, a non-profit helped put the retired serviceman in a new, mortgage-free home in Rio Rancho. 'I consider myself very lucky, in 2009 in Afghanistan, it was an extremely difficult year, some of us didn't make it back, so I feel very lucky to be standing here today,' said Sgt. Mike Lawson. Story continues below News: Bystander injured in shootout in Albuquerque sues suspect and law enforcement KRQE Investigates: Former APD officer tied to DWI scandal now working in Durango Veteran Voices: Rio Rancho veteran and his family receive mortgage free home Trending: Businesses near Lake Roberts struggle in aftermath of Trout Fire Like many service members, Lawson came back with PTSD and physical injuries. He said he needed help getting back to normal life at home. And after moving year after year while enlisted, the family now has a home of their own in Rio Rancho, thanks to the building homes for heroes program, 'Standing here in front of this amazing house, with my amazing family, and this amazing group building homes for heroes, feels like a dream,' expressed Lawson. Mike and his wife, Crystal, and their three kids are leaving behind a 700 square foot apartment and starting their next chapter. 'I think we look back and we're not sure how we did it in the two-bedroom, one bath, but we made it work. And I don't think if you had told us back then, this is where we would be 15 years later, we wouldn't believe it. Not a chance,' shared Crystal Lawson. It's a new home giving the family a place for lifelong memories and milestones. 'There's a saying, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Today, I feel like the luckiest man alive,' said Lawson. The Lawson family is moving in this week, and said they're looking forward to one tradition: ordering pizza on the first night in their new place. Building Homes for Heroes has helped build or fix up 400 homes for veterans nationwide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
