Wild About School Lunch week observed

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard

Little tigers Kelli Morton, left, and Hanna Fults welcome Bonnie Bear to their school for School Lunch Week.

Wild About School Lunch was the chosen theme for schools all across the nation as National School Lunch Week was observed during the month of October.

Lions and tigers and bears?oh my! It was a jungle at West Elementary as cafeteria manager Ann Frye, dressed for a safari, Naomi Allen and the other food service staff prepared the lunch room appropriately for the event. At a point of interest was a lighted animal tree with wild animal plush toys draped on the branches.

Mini Standard’s Bonnie Bear visited the children during their lunch break with several of the youngsters dressed in wild animal costumes.

The annual nationwide activity is designed to increase public understanding of the school lunch program’s importance to the child, to the home, to farms and industry and to the nation. In Warren County, approximately 4,000 students are served daily, according to Jean Wix, school nutrition supervisor, who tries to make the entire school system aware of the week-long celebration.

“The importance of National School Lunch Week is to recognize school lunch programs nationwide, to arouse interest, promote nutritious foods and healthy eating,” Wix said. “It’s fun to get involved.”