ALBANY – Flint River Fresh has received a $25,000 grant from Archer-Daniels Midland Company through the ADM Cares program to expand its successful holistic Farm to School model focusing on agriculture and conservation education among students in southwest Georgia. The investment scales up efforts to increase agricultural skills development and environmental stewardship that will support equal access to healthy food options and sustainable healthy communities.
“ADM has been a consistent supporter of Flint River Fresh for several years now,” the organization’s chairman, Marty McLendon, said in a news release. “Investment from our local community through volunteerism, donations, grants, and collaboration is critical to the success of Flint River Fresh. ADM is a prime example of this commitment.”
Flint River Fresh’s initiatives in managing school gardens and school garden-to-cafeteria pilot programs are significantly enhancing the educational experiences of numerous students and staff in southwest Georgia, including those in elementary schools, career academies and colleges.
The ADM Cares grant award backs the growth of agriculture and conservation education sites, expanding to additional educational institutions in Dougherty and Sumter counties.
“The ADM Cares Program awards funding to projects that focus on at least one of three priority areas: sustainable agriculture, food insecurity or education,” Adam Schmidt, the director of operations at ADM, said. “Flint River Fresh is unique and impressive in that their work fits directly into all three.
“We are proud to support such impactful initiatives right here in our southwest Georgia community that align so well with our mission.”
ADM Cares helps Flint River Fresh deliver dozens of classes across disciplines, extracurricular opportunities, schoolyard farm tours, field trips, and team-building opportunities.
“We can’t wait to see where this school year takes our Farm to School program -- so far we have two amazing, hands-on curriculums lined up along with lots of planting, harvesting, and cooking with the kids,” Jordan Parker, Flint River Fresh’s school gardens coordinator, said. “Youths will explore food production, cooking, and eating through the lens of science, social studies, mathematics and art – all while building and empowering their community.”
Credit: Albany Herald
Credit: Albany Herald
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