The philanthropic arm of the School Nutrition Association has recognized five K-12 foodservice directors with national honors, awarding the operators for addressing top-of-mind issues such as community food insecurity, student homelessness and sustainability.
The peer-nominated School Nutrition Heroes include:
- David Schwake, foodservice director at Litchfield Elementary School District #79 in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
- Timikel Blakey Sharpe, deputy director of foodservice at Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles
- Doreen Simonds, foodservice director at Waterford School District in Waterford, Mich.
- Elizabeth Whidden, child nutrition program manager at Hoover City Schools in Hoover, Ala.
- Betti Wiggins, executive director of the Office of School Nutrition at Detroit Public Schools Community District in Detroit, Mich.
Programs established by the directors are creating a lasting impact on their communities at large, according to the School Nutrition Foundation. Schwake has helped make nutritious food more accessible with a backpack program, school gardens and a mobile food pantry, while Blakey Sharpe opened a temporary housing development for homeless families in her community. Simonds has formed a wellness committee and partnerships with local dentists to help provide kids with dental care. Leveraging her mercantile store, Whidden supplies the community with locally sourced options and donates items to the homeless. Wiggins started a transition school for individuals with disabilities, which help produce 20,000 pounds of produce for schools and charities.
The recipients will be celebrated at the SNA’s annual legislative conference in April.