When the school year ends, our commitment to students does not. At Madera Unified, Nutrition
Services spends the summer making sure children and families continue to have access to
healthy, nutritious meals. What many people may not see is the incredible amount of heart,
planning, and teamwork that goes into making that happen.
Our Grab-and-Go Summer Meals program is much more than handing out food. It begins
months in advance with planning menus, purchasing food, coordinating distribution, and making
sure we have the people and resources needed to serve our community. Behind every meal is a
team working to ensure that food is prepared, packaged, transported, and ready when families
arrive.
This summer, our team provided 456,360 meals to 22,818 students/children across our
community. Each meal represents a child who had access to nourishment, a family who received
support, and a reminder that our district cares about students even when they are not sitting in
our classrooms.
Our Nutrition Services staff and volunteers are the heart of this work. From the employees
preparing the meals to those delivering the food, coordinating the distribution site, and
welcoming families, everyone plays an important role. Their dedication, flexibility, and
willingness to step up throughout the summer are what make this program possible.
We take great pride in ensuring our meals meet state and federal nutrition requirements.
Providing balanced meals during the summer supports student well-being and helps families
stretch their resources during a time when school meals are not part of the daily routine.
Being a Good Human is about more than words. It is about recognizing a need and taking action
to help others. I am proud of our team for doing exactly that.
What I appreciate most is knowing that our work extends beyond the cafeteria and into the
homes of the families we serve. This program reminds me that the most meaningful impact often
comes from people simply showing up, working together, and caring.
I could not be prouder of our Nutrition Services team. They show us every day what it means to
be Good Humans in Action.