West Elementary School has been awarded $20,750 in MA FRESH grant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in collaboration with the APS Food and Nutrition Department. APS is one of only 24 districts statewide to receive this competitive grant, which supports local food systems and food education in schools.
The funding will expand West Elementary’s farm-to-school programming through the school greenhouse, providing students with hands-on learning experiences connected to fresh, locally grown produce that will be incorporated into school meals and nutrition education.
This grant will also help maximize the use of our rooftop deck and greenhouse while engaging food services staff and the broader community. We extend our sincere thanks to Michelle Bissell and Taylor Pirog for leading the grant proposal.