HEALTHY FOODS FOR HEALTHY KIDS INC
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : l*****n@h************************s.o*g
Mission Statement
Our mission is to inspire healthier lives by providing youth with joyful gardening experiences and opportunities to learn science and to eat the garden-fresh vegetables they’ve grown. Our vision is a vegetable garden with HFHK's corresponding science curriculum in every school, leading to generations of healthy families throughout Delaware.
About This Cause
Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK) works with public and private schools to start vegetable gardening programs that engage every child with hands-on gardening activities each spring and fall, and that teaches science in line with DE state science curriculum and Next Generation Science Standards. Small but mighty, as "The First State School Garden Experts," HFHK's education program bring the joys of gardening to over 21,000 students in 49+ schools each year. Your gift to HFHK will help improve children's physical and mental health, and allow them to discover for themselves that vegetables can be delicious! Video: TEDx Wilmington talk by HFHK's founder, Dr. Thianda Manzara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iACUVkXvjlI&feature=youtu.be In 2022, Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK) served more than 44 Delaware schools. Most of our schools are K-5 public schools and host our Education Cultivation (HFHK-EC) Program. In 2023, that number has grow to 49 schools and before the end of 2023, HFHK will be partnered with 50 schools statewide. HFHK-EC supports the state science curriculum, runs during the academic year, and allows EVERY student to participate in hands-on learning activities each spring and fall. By coordinating garden building, providing teacher training and lessons that support Delaware Content Standards, we make it practical for public schools to engage in “seed-to-table” growing each spring and fall. Vegetables grown and harvested by the students are served in the cafeteria so that all students can taste “the fruits - or vegetables in this case, of their labors.” Data confirm that students are willing to try new vegetables and are more likely to eat vegetables they have grown themselves, and increasing vegetable consumption is one of the most effective ways of improving diet and health. A majority of the students we serve are low income, as indicated by the proportion who receive free/reduced lunch. Why Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids? Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids: • Is Delaware’s school vegetable garden expert! • Effectively and sustainably uses resources to provide a low-cost program with low overhead expenses. • HFHK developed its own, original education program model and a curriculum that supports science education while engaging every child in hands-on gardening activities. • Is the only organization in Delaware to receive the inaugural USDA/FNS Farm to School Grant in 2012 and again in 2023. The grant allowed us to partner with other organizations to enhance our program with additional nutrition education, farmer visits to schools and programs to support enhancing the teachers Garden knowledge so that it can be further shared with the students. By engaging children in growing and tasting garden vegetables, Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids contributes to: 1. Reversing the epidemic of childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating, 2. Enhancing students’ knowledge of science, and 3. Providing opportunities for outdoor and experiential learning.