4 days ago
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."
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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
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