On Tuesday, May 22nd, Stoddert is launching a Share Table program. This Share Table is a place where students can place unopened and/or sealed foods that they choose not to eat, which then provides an opportunity for other students to take additional helpings of food that would otherwise be thrown away.

The Share Table is being kicked off as a part of a bigger initiative coming this fall by two fellow Stoddert parents, Lucie Leblois and Alysa MacClellan. They have recently launched the DC Food Project with a mission to reduce food waste in schools, as well as improving access to healthy food for students in DC. With only a few weeks of school left, this will be a “soft launch” and will have a full roll out again in the fall for the whole school year.

The DC Food Project team has been working in collaboration with DCPS to make sure that this table stays within the food safety guidelines provided by DCPS. To make it easier for the children to know what is accepted, there will be signage to show children what can and cannot be placed in the Share Table baskets as part of this program.

The team has also been in contact with our school’s garden coordinator, Mr. Canada, and our science teacher, Mrs. Schneider, who are both very enthusiastic about this initiative and will be looking for ways to help integrate this into their classroom curriculum.

As you may remember this spring, Mr. Canada has been teaching the 4th grade classes about food waste and how they can make an impact in reducing the level of food waste. This share table lines up with some of their concerns and we hope to receive a lot of hands on help from the 4th grade in the weeks – and years – to come!

Many schools throughout DCPS have this type of table in place and have seen the positive impact it has had on food waste, while also serving a greater need for nutrition within their schools. We do hope that by starting this program we will see the same positive change at Stoddert.

If you have time, please discuss this new table with your child and let them know that if they have extra, unopened food they are welcome to place it on the Share Table. Please let them know that they are welcome to take items from the table, as needed.

More details and information about the Share Table will be discussed with all students during science and garden classes on Monday.

Please look out for more information soon on the new initiatives coming this fall!