Nutritional Development Services serves nearly 17,000 lunches to children in the Philadelphia region every day.
Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (NDS) will kick off National School Lunch Week (NSLW) with a blessing of its School Meals Program.
Reverend Alexander Masluk, pastor of Saint Martha Parish, will preside over the blessing at Saint Martha Parish School in Northeast Philadelphia.
Monday, October 14, 2019
11:45 a.m.
Saint Martha Parish School
11321 Academy Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
For the 2019-2020 academic year, NDS has partnered with 104 schools throughout the five-county metropolitan area to make the National School Lunch Program available at their location. This program ensures that children have access to wholesome, nourishing meals at a reduced price or no cost.
Each school lunch provides a student with one third of their daily requirement for calories and key growth nutrients. Each day, students are offered an entrée (including protein and whole grains), a fruit or 100% fruit juice, vegetable, and low-fat or fat-free milk.
Ms. Brooke Mullen, MS, RDN, LDN, Assistant Director of Community Relations for NDS said, “Kicking off National School Lunch Week with a Blessing of the School Meal Program is a wonderful way to recognize all of our partner schools and their dedication to serving a healthy breakfast and lunch to their students each day. We are thrilled to have St. Martha Parish School, a new partner this school year, represent the great work across the Archdiocese, with prayerful best wishes for a successful and healthy year ahead.”
Created in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, NSLW promotes the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has inside and outside of the classroom. NSLW is made possible by the non-profit School Nutrition Association. This year’s theme, “School Lunch: What’s on Your Playlist” highlights how cafeterias are serving up the menu items kids want to eat, with increased choice and customization.
The National School Lunch Program is federally funded and operated nationally by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In our region, it is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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Editor’s Note: For over forty-five years, NDS’ mission has been to serve children and those in need with healthy food and food-related resources. NDS accomplishes its mission in two distinct ways: by administering the federally-funded child nutrition programs and through the privately supported Community Food Program. To learn more about Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit http://nutritionaldevelopmentservices.org/
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.