The Jonesboro Public Schools board has unanimously approved a $167,000 grant to fund another year of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, providing fresh produce snacks to elementary students at five district schools.
According to Kris Williams, assistant superintendent for Jonesboro Public Schools, the program offers students fresh fruits and vegetables two days per week as a supplemental food source beyond school meals. Snacks are delivered directly to classrooms, with students receiving fruit on one day and a vegetable on another.
Schools participating in the program include the Health, Wellness, and Environmental Studies Magnet School and the Leadership Magnet School, among others. Marquita Jenkins, a Jonesboro resident whose six-year-old son Germany attends one of the schools, said the program helps bridge the gap between the district's early lunch periods and dinnertime at home.
"A lot of these kids are extremely hungry when they come home because lunch is so early in the day," Jenkins said. "That afternoon snack kind of carries them over a little bit till they get home."
Jenkins also noted that such programs are particularly helpful in light of cuts to assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Williams emphasized the program’s importance to the district’s mission of supporting student success through proper nutrition.
“When a student is fed, they’re going to be more active in class, more attentive, and they’re going to learn better throughout the school day," Williams said. "Being able to support all our students is very important to the district."
The grant requires annual approval due to its amount. Following the school board’s unanimous vote, the program is expected to resume next week. The annual funding cycle for the grant runs from October 1 through September 30, with a new application required each August.