Livingston schools receive money for healthy snacks

Two Livingston schools are being awarded money to provide students with more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Campus Park Elementary and Selma Herndon Elementary are among 371 schools that will share $12.2 million in federal grants for healthier foods.

Campus Park will receive $2,835 and Selma Herndon will receive $3,200 from the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, designed to teach students about good nutrition, officials say.

“Nearly three out of every five students in California are at greater risk of not having access to enough nutritious foods outside of school, which could hurt their ability to concentrate and learn,” said Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in a news release. “This program takes a bite out of this kind of food insecurity.”

Eligible applicants for the grant include elementary schools where half the student population is low-income. Campus Park Elementary, for example, has the highest percentage of students in the Livingston Union School District who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches.

The grant requires schools to make fruits and vegetables available during the day to all students outside the school breakfast and lunch programs. According to a news release from the state’s Department of Education, the schools must widely publicize the availability of the program at the campuses and may partner with outside groups to support their efforts.

The department notes that the program also supports the local economy as schools purchase fresh produce from local farmers.

This story was originally published July 19, 2015 at 1:36 PM with the headline "Livingston schools receive money for healthy snacks."