Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/85591
Donna Toly and Staff Serve Up Award-Winning School Food Donna is on her 33rd going on her 16th Sweetwater County School District #1 in Rock Springs. This past June, she won the Outstanding Food Service Director of the Year for Wyoming. But the awards don't stop there. Toly was also named the Northwest Region School Food Service Director of the Year at the School Nutrition Association's Annual National Conference, after Wyoming submitted her state award to the national association. "Wyoming's on the map," Toly said with a smile, after the national association announced that this was the first time since the award's inception that it has been given to anyone in Wyoming. "Even though it was directed toward me as director, I couldn't do this without my 50-some staff members," Toly declared. Although Donna left the traditional classroom 16 years ago, her 34 years with Sweetwater #1 show her dedication to the students, food programs and grants, and Wyoming. Toly says it's time that people involved within the Wyoming school system start patting each other on the back. "A lot of districts in Wyoming have broken trail by meeting new demands that the government is asking us to change, but no one is giving themselves credit for it." Many districts around the state are participating in the Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). This grant program, which allows students to learn more about fresh fruit and veggies outside of the breakfast and lunch programs, also helps combat childhood obesity by teaching children more healthful eating habits, and is at NO cost to their 10 BACK TO SCHOOL 2012 | WEAnews year as a WEA member, and year as food service director for district, because it's federally subsidized. Toly thinks every school district should try to take advantage of this grant program. "The more we can educate the students, the more they can talk to their parents about this; they're gonna say at the grocery store, 'Buy me a piece of jicama and I'll tell you all I learned at school,'" Toly said. check out the program next year. "Wyoming (districts) should be proud and pat themselves on the back, and fill out and submit the application." Toly hopes her recognition sets the pace for other schools to To find out more about the Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), visit: http://www.fns.usda.gov To apply for the Outstanding Food Service Director award, visit: http://www.schoolnutrition.org COULD WIN, TOO! YOU