The end of the school year has arrived and many parents around the world are rejoicing as their time becomes more unstructured and the challenge of a creative school lunch is put off for a few months. This summer the girls and I will be travelling as much as possibleĀ and I am determined to be prepared for school when September rolls around. Somehow each year I end up scrambling around, as if the calendar sped up.
One of the items on my list for the Fall is to get together with one of our local schools to volunteer with some of their fundraising efforts. If I can volunteer to help timprove a local school…then why not?
Fundraise with Fresh from the Farm
We’ve all seen the fundraising flyers come home and I’m sure sometimes you’re excited while others….well let’s just say the items which are offered for purchase may not be something you’d actually have a use for. Frankly, there are only so many boxes of chocolate that I can justify before I am just bordering on a sugar-rush.
How about we change all of that and offer up fresh, local produce which can be delivered right to your school for fundraising?
In its their third year, Fresh from the FarmĀ gives schools the opportunity to raise funds by selling fresh, Ontario fruit and vegetables to the community, while supporting healthy eating and Ontarioās farmers.
Since 2013, 152 Ontario schools have successfully piloted Fresh from the Farm. In total, they collectively distributed almost 130,000 kilograms of fresh, Ontario fruit and vegetables to Ontario families, and raised more than $112,000 for school initiatives. As well, an additional $150,000 was returned to Ontario farmers.
The program has two bundles of Ontario fruit and vegetables will be offered for sale:
- Priced at $10, Bundle A includes: 3 lb Carrots, 3 lb Onions, 5 lb Potatoes, and 3 lb Sweet Potatoes
- Priced at $15, Bundle B includes: 8 lb gift box of Empire Apples
So…we have fresh, Ontario produce being sold to families for a fair rate, a school who keeps 40% of the sales,Ā Ontario farmers who make 50% of sales and finally the Fresh from the Farm project keeps 10% to keep the program going….sounds like a win-win to me!
How to Participate
First off all each school needs a School Champion, this is usually a parent or teacher who will coordinate with the Fresh from the Farm contact. Once you have identified your School Champion, just verify that your school is eligible and then go ahead enroll online.
I am bringing this to you all now because your school has to enroll between April and August in order to set everything up. In late AugustĀ an opening kit will arrive at the school which includes order forms, brochures, promotional poster and program details. As of September 8th you can begin!!
I will be sharing my experience assisting Montgomery Village Public SchoolĀ with Fresh from the Farm and I encourage you to sign your school up!
To find out more, you can phone EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-510-2,Ā EmailĀ atĀ contact@freshfromfarm.ca,or follow them on FacebookĀ andĀ Twitter.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.Ā
What an amazing program – definitely better than your usual chocolate bar sale! For the price of 10-15 it is also a huge bargain to get that much fresh produce!
I would rather buy that then chocolate from the door, terrific idea!
What an awesome idea.
I looove this idea and I would deffinitely be excited if this was the fundraiser they brought home. The chocolate fundraisers are not appealing at all anymore, because the prices are outrageous and the products aren’t unique.
That is super fantastic! I wish my son’s school had something like this. Abbotsford is plentiful with fresh farms, fruits and veggies and it’s a healthier alternative to other fundraisers I’ve seen the in the past. Very cool!
I love this idea. I’m in Southern CA and will see what is available down here. I have a CSA that delivers to my door – I wonder if they would work with the school on this!