|  FoodLink News
FoodLink would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to all the people and organizations that support our vision that "No Child Goes Hungry"
Thank You to FoodLink's Board of Directors:
Kay Truesdale
Rich Barron
Kathi Artis
Chantal Medeiros-Horton
Nancy Cheney, MD
Marc Librizzi
Diane Wagner
Joe Fischer
Gail McCann
Harley Roberts
Tony Casares
Hollis Elliott Fernandez
Jim Partridge
Thank You to Our Food Distribution Agencies:
Open Gate Ministries
Exeter Food Closet
Cristo La Vid Verdadera
Earlimart Community Food Pantry
St Vincent de Paul - Farmersville
Lemon Cove Presbyterian Church
Ivanhoe Presbyterian Church
Lindsay Strathmore Coordinating Council
London Food Pantry
JC Junction Food Pantry
St Vincent de Paul - Porterville
Porterville Rescue Mission
Teviston Betterment Association
Bethel Assembly
Tulare Emergency Aid
Visalia Salvation Army
Visalia Emergency Aid
Woodlake Food Pantry
Pixley Food Pantry
THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE!
Hunger Math: Feeding Students = Higher Test Scores!
News in Brief
Hunger Math: Feeding Students = Higher Test Scores!
"It's as simple as this," says Rob Hudson, Superintendent of Alpaugh Unified School District. "Children who eat nutritious foods do better in school. It's the single most important thing we can do to improve test scores."
Alpaugh has good reason to search for solutions. It is one of several Tulare County school districts facing federal sanctions under the No Cild Left Behind Act. NCLB sets predetermined goals for improvements in student performance that don't always take into account the realities of poverty and lack of resources that plague certain parts of Tulare County. In Alpaugh, for example, 95% of the students qualify for free and reduced price school meals. "My vision for Alpaugh is to get breakfast in the classroom," Hudson declares.
In-class breakfast and "grab-and-go" carts have proven very successful in the Cutler-Orosi school district. Since instituting the programs, "Kids are fed," says Robert Schram, of the district's Food Services. "There is less tardiness and better attendance. Kids get to school on time. Teachers see better participation, and there are fewer visits to the nurse with headaches and stomach aches. Breakfast in class is the only way to ensure that everyone has something to eat." The program is now a model for other school districts nationwide.
Yet the reality remains that many Tulare County children arrive at school hungry. Ivanhoe school nurse Linda Munoz sees "a lot of kids who miss the first half hour of school with a stomach ache or headache, when in actuality they didn't't have breakfast."
Lucinda Awbrey , head nurse for Visalia Unified School District, notes "low blood sugar can cause difficulty with memory and concentration, both of which are key aspects of the learning process." "I use the analogy of a car," adds Lynelle Grumbles, R.D.. "Eating nutritious food is like putting in quality fuel. The quality of the fuel affects the performance."
Responding to recent research that demonstrates the link between nutrition and learning, many schools now offer snacks during testing, and notes are sent home urging parents to be sure their children have breakfast on testing days. "But why push snacks and breakfast during testing week only?" wonders Schram. "Students need proper nutrition every day." Superintendent Hudson of Alpaugh agrees. "We need to make healthy eating a part of the school climate."
Making nutrition a priority means educating students, parents, administrators, and the community as a whole. "It's worth the hurdles," says Neva Wright, Health Educator with the Tulare County Office of Education. "Once we make it a high priority, all the pieces will come together."
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FoodLink News :
 Edison Volunteers
FoodLink welcomes Volunteer Coordinator, Ana Suarez to our team. Ana came to FoodLink in July 2009, through AmeriCorps. One of the first volunteer projects Ana coordinated was a volunteer day which included 22 Edison employees and their families on August 22nd. These volunteers repacked frozen sliced apples, and fresh fruits into family size servings.
Thank You Edison Employees !
For more information on becoming a FoodLink Volunteer contact:
Ana Suarez
Volunteer Coordinator
FoodLink for Tulare Conty
559 651-3663
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 Summer Lunch Program 2009 FoodLinks summer lunch program was a great success. Foodlink served 15 sites in Tulare County which included 4
new sites. An average of 650 lunches were served daily. Thank you to all our summer lunch agencies for all their hard work, this could not have been accomplished without you. FoodLink's Administrative Manager, Becky Kennedy did an outstanding job of coordinating the program and overseeing its success.
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 "Nutrition on the Go!
This Program has grown to 19 communities within Tulare and Kings Counties. At these events that are best described as mini Farmers Market/Health Fair/Carnival like atmosphere, FoodLink is serving between 200 and 500 families per site, twice a month in some sites. Kicking off 2009 we served over 5,500 families with fresh produce and nutrition education. We have additional services provided by several other agencies. FoodLink continues to partner with community agencies to add more value to our events. Many families come to these sites, not only because of the need but for the positive experience and support provided to help get their families on the road to a healthier lifestyle.
Visit our calendar page for locations,dates and times in your area.
 FoodLink for Tulare County, Inc.
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1544 Visalia, CA. 93279
Physical address:
7427 W. Sunnyview Visalia, CA. 93291
Phone: (559) 651-3663 Fax: (559) 651-2569
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