Bullis Kindergartners Work to Cut Down on Food Waste

Proving that you are never too young to make a difference, Bullis Kindergarteners are doing their part to reduce food waste. What started as an idea in Ms. Ruina's classroom turned into a partnership with a local non-profit.

The Lower School has carved out space for service work as a way of creating community during the school day. Earlier this year, Kindergarten students made 100 sandwiches for Martha's Table in support of McKenna's Wagon meal van, which provides sandwiches and trail mix to over 200 neighbors experiencing hunger or housing insecurity in the DMV every night. 

After learning about the importance of helping people in our community with a focus on getting food to people who need it, our youngest learners noticed food being thrown away in the cafeteria. Students identified a problem, and their teachers used math, reading, writing, public speaking, and social-emotional lessons to help them find a solution.

Food that has been served is discarded in a food waste bin and will go to composting or to feed baby pigs owned by a 3rd-grade teacher and farmer, Mr. Mark Walter. Some of the food not served will go to Celestial Manna, a volunteer-based non-profit that recovers food that would otherwise be discarded. They distribute these donations in communities where people are affected by poverty and food insecurities, supporting over 20,000 people a month.

On May 24, FOX 5's Bob Barnard visited Bullis School to highlight the important classroom lesson, and several segments aired during the morning and evening news.

We are so proud of our kindergarten students! It is exciting to see them gain attention for using their voices to affect change—even though they are only Kindergarteners, they have the power to do so!

Watch the news segment

Source: Kindergartners work to cut down on food waste | Fox 5 DC