Kulik: Four elementary schools awarded grants for fresh fruits and vegetables

HARRISBURG, Sept. 22 – State Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Allegheny, today announced that four schools were awarded grants to provide students with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Kulik said the funding was dispersed through the Department of Education and awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The program’s goals are to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expand the variety of fruits and vegetables students experience, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and positively impact students’ present and future health.

“These grants do more than simply provide money to selected schools,” Kulik said. “In fact, they provide kids with the necessary foods required for them to succeed inside the classroom, while also setting an example for a healthy diet.”

The following elementary schools in the 45th Legislative District were awarded funding through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program:

  • Carlynton Elementary School.
  • Cornell School Elementary School.
  • Sto-Rox Primary Center.
  • Sto-Rox Upper Elementary School.

Kulik said the program works by giving select elementary schools $50 to $75 per student for each school year. The exact amount of per student funding is determined by the Department of Education and is based on the total funds allocated to the state and the student enrollment at participating schools.

Kulik said funding priority is given to the schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Grantees are required to spend a majority of their grant on the purchase of fresh fruit and vegetables and must develop a plan to establish partnerships to reduce other costs.