A new partnership between Cass County Health System, the Atlantic Kiwanis, and Head Start, ensures leftover food from CCHS is sent home with families who could use a little extra food on the table. Last fall, members of Healthy Cass County spoke with CCHS Food Service Director, James Baker, who mentioned approximately 50 pounds of food that wasn’t served was thrown away every week. James shared that his staff often told him they wished the food could be shared with others. One conversation led to another, and as of January 2020 the Atlantic Kiwanis program is now “rescuing” the leftover food from the hospital and transporting it to Head Start, where teachers can send it home with young students to share with their families.

Kiwanis member Carol Sedden (Left) and Head Start Teacher Heather Dulberg (Right) stand by the freezer holding food from CCHS. (Photo submitted)

Carol Seddon, the Kiwanis member who has spearheaded her organization’s involvement in the food rescue partnership, reports it’s been going very well. “The families are loving it because once in a while mom and dad can’t be there or you have a night when you don’t want to cook, and they can just warm up lasagna” shares Carol. Kiwanis has also started sending “how to use” cards home with non-traditional items. Unsure how someone should prepare frozen potatoes, Carol took a few home to test recipes herself. After finding success, she prepared “how to use” cards that are now sent home with the frozen potatoes.

This new food partnership supplements the Family Nutrition program Kiwanis provides for Head Start with support from Fareway. Once a week, the Family Nutrition program sends every Head Start student home with a bag of meals to share with their family. The new partnership with CCHS allows teachers to send additional food home with students when needed. Carol shares that the kids appreciate the food. Little kids have put seatbelts around the bags of food they take home with them on the bus, and teachers report kids sharing that they’ve cooked with their parents. As Carol says, the program doesn’t just provide food, “it supports families.”

For more information, please contact: Brigham Hoegh, Wellness Coordinator Cass County ISU Extension 712-249-5870 Healthy Cass County is a community-focused network to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Healthy Cass County holds monthly meetings held at Cass County Public Health the second Monday of the month at noon. Follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty. Or reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870 more information on local health and wellness events or resources.