|
PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey and Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman are honoring school nutrition specialists and school lunch workers across the state for their hard work to keep Arizona’s children fed all year-round, especially during school closures. To honor the important work of these frontline employees, Governor Ducey proclaimed today “School Lunch Hero Day” across Arizona.
“School nutrition specialists and lunch workers continue to make sure no Arizona kid goes hungry during the COVID-19 health emergency,” said Governor Ducey. “When schools closed, they rose to the challenge and found innovative ways to feed our kids nutritious meals. Arizona is grateful for their hard work, and we are proud to celebrate our school lunch heroes.”
“Now more than ever, I am thankful for the often-unsung heroes of our school nutrition programs. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, these professionals have risen to the occasion during statewide school closures to ensure every child who needs access to a meal receives one,” said Superintendent Kathy Hoffman. “Their efforts have allowed thousands of school children to receive nearly three million healthy and nutritious meals during this crisis, providing a vital resource for Arizona’s families.”
Schools mobilized quickly to transition to summer food service operations shortly after schools closed due to COVID-19, with many taking innovative approaches to serving meals to families while adhering to social distancing guidelines. To date, Arizona schools have served nearly three million meals at more than 1,500 school sites during school closures.
In March, Governor Ducey and Superintendent Hoffman joined local school officials with the Cartwright Elementary School District to hand out school lunches to families and provide information about where Arizona kids can access free meals during school closures.
View a PDF of the proclamation HERE.
Read the full proclamation below.
***
WHEREAS, nutritious school meals are an essential for the health and wellbeing of our children; and
WHEREAS, Arizona school nutrition professionals are committed to providing healthful, nutritious meals to the children of Arizona daily; and
WHEREAS, Arizona school nutrition professionals are tasked with adhering to nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, following strict food safety protocols, and providing nutrition education, all while offering service with a smile; and
WHEREAS, hardworking Arizona school nutrition professionals prepare and serve over 169 million school meals; and
WHEREAS, our dedicated Arizona school nutrition professionals continue to prepare and serve an unprecedented number of school meals to help keep our children fed during this time when schools are closed.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2020, as
SCHOOL LUNCH HERO DAY
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona
GOVERNOR
DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this first day of May in the year Two Thousand and Twenty and of the Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Forty-Fourth.
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE
|
