This Elementary School Lunch Program Is Something Every School Should Implement

Sometimes brilliance is hiding under a simple solution. In an attempt to reduce waste and give back to families in need, elementary schools in Orange County, Florida, have started a straightforward yet genius lunch program, and it’s working wonders.

It’s called a ‘share table,’ and at it, students can leave any unwanted and unopened food or drink packages, so anyone can take an item they want off the table. In addition, those who may not have had enough to eat can pick up an extra snack to fill themselves up. And, if the school day is over and there’s still food on the table, administrators take it to the local food bank, church, or charity.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that as much as 20 public elementary schools in the county have a program like this in place. “Without this program, that would literally go in the dumpsters,” one local pastor said. “It really helps us out.”

One year ago, the United States Department of Agriculture issued a memo, endorsing this concept as “an innovative strategy to encourage the consumption of nutritious foods and reduce food waste.”

(h/t popsugar)

In an attempt to reduce waste and give back to families in need, elementary schools in Orange County, Florida, have started a straightforward yet genius lunch program

Image credits: wuhanmommy

Students can leave any unwanted and unopened food or drink packages, so anyone can take an item they want off the table

Image credits: nhfcommunity

And those who may not have had enough to eat can pick up an extra snack to fill themselves up

Image credits: sustainable_america

Most people loved the concept and claimed it has spread even wider

Some, however, pointed out a few possible flaws

What do you think?

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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What do you think ?

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CBN2143 7 years ago

Makes me cry a little, to be honest. It's very heartwarming... and I can't bear to think of a child being hungry. Bravo to this school!

15points

Full Name 7 years ago

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KT Trondsen 7 years ago

Wish they had this when I was a kid. I was often sent to school without enough food and was always starving :/

9points

Echo 7 years ago

I know. I would have been all over it.

2points

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Full Name 7 years ago

WTF?!?!?!?! Did you read the social media comments? Some schools have rules against kids sharing food with each other. What on earth? This is insanity. This program is great and it absolutely beyond blows my mind that some idiots would make rules to prevent the sharing of food, especially between friends. I'm sure this is some peanut b******t (kids who can't go near nuts should be taught how to properly protect themselves instead of trying to dictate the behaviour of the whole school). I'm naturally a very cynical person but even I didn't think anybody could be down on something like not wasting food. WTF?!?!?!

8points

BREAK YOUr perceptions 7 years ago

oh man, you should look up what grocery stores do with food past its best buy date. They legit just toss it out and forbid anyone from going into their dumpsters to take out any sealed food. Its absolute madness! Some places send their slightly past expiration date food to shelters or to food co-ops. but that is far from the norm. we are a horrible wasteful society.

7points

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