The Plymouth Schools are joining nationwide efforts to use food resources wisely. During the December 2nd meeting of the Plymouth School Board, Gloria Burnam, Director of Food Services for the corporation, asked and received permission to donate food to the Marshall County Neighborhood Center that otherwise would have been tossed into the trash.
Burnam said, “There is so much food waste in our cafeterias every day. If kids don’t want it, we have to throw it away.” According to federal rules covering food programs, no food may leave the cafeteria.
Burnam said she learned of a way to donate the food that normally had to be dumped to charity when she attended the Indiana Nutrition Association conference this year.
After the meeting, Burnam said they do have sharing tables at the elementary schools where children may place unwanted items, such as unopened milk cartons, packaged fruit cups or a banana, into a container that other children may take and the staff can offer it for up to a day later. Those food items are not offered in the regular breakfast or lunch lines, however.
Burnam told the Board that the donation efforts could begin next week. After the meeting, she said volunteers from the Neighborhood Center would pick up the food items one time per week.
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (Public Law 104-210) protects a donor from liability when donating to a nonprofit organization, as long as it is donated in good faith. The legislation was enacted in 1996 during the administration of former President Bill Clinton.
Burnam said donating the food will help the community and keep the wasted food out of landfills. It is estimated that some 14 billion pounds of food are sent to landfills each year in the United States.
Burnam said, “We offer any food items (those placed in tubs at sharing tables) to programs at our schools first like the after school tutoring or special needs.” She added, “It is paid for by taxpayers.” Board member Jenny Sickmiller suggested that the Blessings in a Backpack program might able to use food items as well. Blessings in a Backpack is run by volunteers who fill backpacks with food for children to take home over a weekend to help assure that they will have adequate nutrition.
According to Burnam, the Marshall County Health Department has approved the proposed donations between the schools and the Neighborhood Center. Superintendent Daniel Tyree indicated he was in favor of the project, but due to federal rules, the matter takes board approval. The Board voted 5-0 in favor of the partnership.
Carol Anders Correspondent
