From The Trussville Tribune Staff Reports
BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham City of Parks and Recreation has partnered with the non-profit organization Fertile Ground to provide snacks and meals after school for children that come to the city’s recreation centers.
Of the 21 recreation centers in the City of Birmingham, most have students that attend activities and utilize the facilities after school daily.
“Unfortunately a lot of the kids in our neighborhoods only get a solid meal when they are in school. Our partnership with Fertile Ground gives us the opportunity to get them healthy snacks and a meal to give them balance. The program has proven to be successful and it also has increased the numbers of students we see come to our facilities.” Joel Simmons, Director of Henry Crumpton Recreation Center.
Children in the program will receive a fruit cup or granola bar immediately after school, and before going home the will receive a meal which may include a sandwich, vegetable, fruit, dessert and milk.
“We are fortunate to have city staff that saw a problem and found a solution. Most of the students eat lunch early in the day and then stay at the recreation centers after school, sometimes as late as 8:00 p.m. each night. No one is at their best when they have gone without food that long. We are finding that not only is behavior improving but general participation is up and thriving. Our thanks goes out to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for funding Fertile Ground and to Fertile Ground for stepping up to fill a need in the community,” said Mayor William Bell.
“As a requirement of Fertile Ground recreation leaders must engage students in the after school program to participate in personal development activities which includes talking about their day at school and doing various enrichment exercises” said District 4 City Councilor William Parker, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee. “We wanted an element of accountability to make sure the program was a success and had long term impact,” he continued.