MHS Receives Grant to Expand School Garden

Funds awarded by New England Dairy & Food Council for Fuel Up to Play 60

Research shows that physical activity, in combination with good nutrition, is essential to a healthy lifestyle and leads to academic success. That is why Medford High School is being awarded $2,059 to support its Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative. Medford High School was selected from among hundreds of schools across the country that applied for funding to help them jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. This nationwide funding program offers schools up to $4,000 to support a variety of activities including foodservice equipment, nutrition and physical education materials, student and staff incentives, staff development and overall Fuel Up to Play 60 implementation. Funding for this program is provided by New England Dairy & Food Council and the dairy farmers of Massachusetts and New England.

The funds will be used to expand the school garden to at least twice its current size and include more fruit-bearing plants. The school will purchase seeds/seedlings, apple and pear trees, blueberry bushes, and promotional materials to help recruit members for the Garden Club and celebrate its accomplishments. Garden Club members will host taste tests including smoothies and parfaits made with low-fat or non-fat dairy and fruit grown in the garden. The samples selected as favorites will be added to the school menu. The school also plans to use the funds to improve physical activity opportunities for students with the purchase of a Nintendo Wii U Console and the Just Dance 2016 GOLD Edition game for students to play indoors.

“I hope to see the Garden Club membership increase,” said Retta Smith, RD, LDN, nutrition specialist with Medford Public Schools. “I want to see the garden increase in size and include a larger variety of vegetables. And ultimately, I would like every student in the school to know that there is a garden at the high school and have tasted something grown from it.”

Former New England Patriots Tight End and Super Bowl XXXVI Champion Jermaine Wiggins is an ambassador for the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. He says, “Fuel Up to Play 60 works because it takes a well-rounded approach to student wellness. It challenges students to be physically active and to choose healthy foods at school. The program teaches students the valuable lesson that these two behaviors go hand in hand.”

Nearly 74,000 schools across the United States, including more than 1,600 here in Massachusetts, are participating in Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by National Dairy Council, local Dairy Councils and National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program empowers students to drive change and work closely with educators to find creative ways to make their school a healthier place.

“It’s inspiring to see that Medford High School is making student wellness a priority. Nutrition and physical activity help students reach their full potential, and Fuel Up to Play 60 is the vehicle that helps schools reach their wellness goals,” said Jill Read, registered dietitian from New England Dairy & Food Council. “That’s why New England dairy farmers and the New England Patriots are teaming up to bring this program to schools across our region. We’re thrilled to see Fuel Up to Play 60 taking off in Medford.”

Schools, parents and students can learn more about eligibility requirements, and find the “Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60” application at FuelUpToPlay60.com. There are several application windows each year, including an upcoming deadline on June 15, 2016. For more information about Fuel Up to Play 60 in New England, follow New England Dairy & Food Council on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit www.NewEnglandDairyCouncil.org.

Massachusetts Dairy Farmer Marlow Duffy and New England Dairy & Food Council Registered Dietitian Jill Read present $2,059 in funding to The Garden Club students at Medford High School for Fuel Up to Play 60.

– Submitted by the New England Dairy & Food Council