FoodCorps Seeking Partner Sites for the '25-'26 School Year

Hello Farm to School colleagues!

I know we're all ramping up for the upcoming school year, but I wanted to share some information about FoodCorps as we plan partnerships in MI for the '25-'26 school year and beyond. FoodCorps is a national non-profit that partners with schools and communities to nourish kids' health, education, and sense of belonging. In Michigan, we currently have programs in the greater Petoskey area, Alcona County, Flint, Detroit/Detroit Metro areas but we are seeking new partnerships in the Lower Peninsula.

 

We place FoodCorps AmeriCorps Members full time for the entire school year in a school district where they support PreK-12 school district's goals and initiatives around food education and nourishing school meals. We seek to partner with school districts for at least 4-5 years, so that our Members can help build capacity for the goals of the district. Where a school district is on their "Farm to School" journey isn't as important as having a vested interest in long-term change where our Members and FoodCorps can help build/add capacity for sustainable change.

 

 Our direct service program focuses on:

• Hands-On Food Education: hands-on lessons in classrooms, gardens, and cafeterias about growing, cooking, and tasting a variety of nourishing foods. Lessons meet common core curriculum  standards along with focusing on students' social emotional growth. Lessons primarily take place in elementary or K-8 schools.

• Nourishing School Meals: Increasing access to nourishing school meals by working alongside food service departments to get nutritious, locally sourced, scratch-cooked items on the lunch tray and meals that are responsive to students' preferences.

• Advancing Equity through Food: Aligning with community visions for food justice and prioritizing the experiences of BIPOC communities and local leaders.

 

As part of our commitment to supporting those most impacted by food injustice, we only partner with districts where the majority (>50%) of students are eligible for free or reduced price meals.

 

I've attached a few documents about our programming. Our current partnership model includes multi-year programmatic partnerships, and our signature programs. We may also be able to offer assistance with the partnership fees if those are a barrier for a district. If you are interested in learning more about FoodCorps, in becoming a host site for FoodCorps Members, or have suggestions about potential districts/communities where we could partner, please reach out.

 

I also wanted to share the 100+ resources available to schools via our website, including curriculum-connected lessons for grades K-5, a guide to offering schoolwide taste tests. Check them out here! 

Good luck with the start of the new school year!

Best,

Seema

 

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Seema Jolly | she/her/hers

FoodCorps | Impact & Partnerships Lead, Michigan

(269) 352-6224 (cell)

foodcorps.org | @foodcorps

MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.