UCHRA Helps Expand Putnam Child Food Nutrition At Risk Program

UCHRA has become the sponsor for the Putnam School System Child Nutrition At Risk Program.

The program is a federal effort meant to assist with providing students with food during school, extracurricular activities, and tutoring. UCHRA Community Services Director LaNelle Godsey said that one day they received a call asking if they were interested in the sponsorship. Godsey said the school system sits in areas UCHRA already serves and their needs fit with the mission of their outreach.

“We just felt that this would be a great way just to get involved,” Godsey said. “To help get the sponsor with the school district so that we could be there to give them hands-on support.”

Williams said to be eligible over 50 percent of the children attending the school would need to be eligible for free or reduced lunch. Williams said that most Putnam schools met these requirements and all who did will be receiving UCHRA assistance.

“We’ll be working with them all along this process to make sure that everything runs smoothly,” Williams said. “And that our children are getting the food and the extra things that they need.”

Williams said that UCHRA will begin training nutrition staff on the data basis used by schools.

“So we’re hoping that by working with them we can help streamline,” Williams said. “We are a phone call away.”

The UCHRA up until now has only worked with daycare homes in providing training and assistance for the daycare’s reimbursement. Williams said that they would be working closely with the school’s reimbursement to make sure they are reimbursed for providing the food.