Elkhart Indiana Schools Turns Cafeteria Leftovers in to Take Home Meals

Food insecurity is a big problem in our area. Over 10,000 children in our area alone don't know where their next meal is coming from, and many rely on free lunch programs provided by their schools. Food waste is also an issue. At the end of the day, what happens to all of the unused food from school cafeterias? Elkhart, Indiana schools have come up with a fantastic solution for both problems. They've joined forces with a nonprofit called Cultivate, and they are turning their lunchroom leftovers in to individual frozen meals, and every Friday, students in food insecure households are given a backpack containing eight dinners. The organization visits the school three times a week to rescue the unused food so they can continue feeding these children even when they're not in school. Such a simple solution, right? According to an article from WSBT, the school has seen so much success they are planning to expand the program to other schools in the area.