St. Peter’s Health Foundation has been awarded a $239,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture for its Community Coordinated Harvest of the Month program, hospital officials said.
St. Peter’s Harvest of the Month Community Coordinator Kim Lloyd at a Helena Food Share event.
The funding will allow St. Peter’s and its partners to increase programming across local schools, promoting hands-on food, garden and nutrition education while strengthening connections between local farms and schools.
The program, led by St. Peter’s Harvest of the Month Community Coordinator Kim Lloyd, focuses on engaging students in nutrition lessons, including taste tests of locally sourced foods, school garden development, and farm-to-school curriculum integration. The grant will also increase community engagement through partnerships with local farmers, food pantries and public schools, ensuring the program benefits the broader community.
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“This grant allows us to deepen our impact on children’s health and wellness by connecting them to where their food comes from and how it impacts their overall well-being,” Lloyd said recently in a news release, adding the program will help shape lifelong healthy habits for children.
Since its inception in 2021, St. Peter’s Harvest of the Month program has operated in partnership with Helena Public Schools, Carroll College, Kids Nutrition Coalition, Helena Food Share and Montana State University. The program aims to improve food security, promote local food sourcing and expand nutrition education in the community.
Helena Public Schools Superintendent Rex Weltz said the program brings invaluable resources into Helena schools.
“Our students are learning not just about food and nutrition, but also the vital role agriculture plays in our community,” he said, adding the district was proud to be part of the program.
St. Peter’s Lifestyle Medicine Specialist Dr. David Krainacker said programs like this are crucial in preventing chronic diseases and supporting a culture of wellness.
“Teaching children about healthy eating and where their food comes from is essential for their long-term health,” Krainacker said in the news release.
Helena Food Share Program Operations Director Kim Dale said the program goes beyond the classroom.
“It connects families with locally grown, nutritious foods and creates stronger relationships between schools, local producers and organizations,” she said.
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