Dear Mr. Cooney:

I am writing to nominate the Food Services Department of Warren Consolidated Schools in Warren, MI for the Congressional Hunger Center's "Victory Against Hunger Awards."

Since the 2002-2003 academic year, Warren Consolidated Schools has seen significant increases in free and reduced lunch and breakfast participation, as well as overall participation in their school lunch and breakfast programs.  

For the 2005-2006 academic year, 4,347 students have applied for free or reduced lunch, representing 28.9% of total enrollment in the school district, compared to 3205 students, or 21.81% of enrollment in 2002-2003.  During the same time period, the average number of lunches served each day has gone from 5082 to 6052, an increase of 19.1 percent.  The district's breakfast program has grown even more rapidly, increasing from an average of 468 breakfasts served in 2002-2004 to 1072, an increase of nearly 130 percent! 

Warren Consolidated Schools is contributing to the health and nutrition of its students each and every day by ensuring they have affordable access to nutritious lunches and breakfasts.  However, what makes this district's efforts remarkable is that they are actively seeking to change the way their students think about school meal programs.  By using innovative promotions, the staff of the Food Services Department has made the nutritious meals provided by the District fun and desirable.  And by simultaneously increasing participation in the free and reduced price program among eligible students, the school district ensures that all students can access the meals.

One example of Warren Consolidated's efforts to change the way their students think about school lunches at an early age is an elementary school promotion called "Come Dine with Us."  A notice was sent home to parents announcing the event and inviting them to "dine" with their child on a particular day.  The menu for the event was the regular lunch, and other than sprucing up the lunch room, everything remained the same.  Parents and students alike enjoyed the day and the nutritious lunch.  The promotion was so successful at one elementary school that the district plans to replicate in all of their elementary schools.

Another example of the district's efforts to promote school lunches are the regular BBQ's they hold at all of their schools with themes like: "Welcome Back BBQ," "Happy Franksgiving BBQ," "World Series BBQ," a "Think Spring BBQ" held in the middle of winter, "Opening Day BBQ," and the year-end "Fun Day BBQs."  One particularly successful event at a middle school featured a NASCAR theme, with NASCAR-themed prizes donated by vendors, and an authentic Buddy Baker NASCAR owned by one of the school's assistant principals.  

As successful as Warren Consolidated's efforts to promote healthy eating through school lunches and breakfasts have been, they are not content to rest on their laurels.  The district's Food Services Department is currently working to launch a "Caught Eating Healthy" program in the fall.  "Lunch Moms" in the elementary schools will be asked to write down the names of students that are "caught" eating a healthy and balanced lunch either from school or from home.  At the end of each week, the school will draw one of the identified students' names from each lunch period.  The students that are chosen will receive a $5 gift card to a local produce market to further reinforce healthy eating habits. 

As I hope you will agree, Warren Consolidated Schools is fortunate to have a Food Services Department so dedicated to the health and nutrition of their students, as well as administrators and teachers that are so supportive of efforts to promote health eating and wellness.  

I appreciate your consideration of this nomination for a "Victory Against Hunger Award," and I look forward to hearing from you.  

Sincerely,