Peoria Tribe recieves grant to fund kitchen upgrades and on-site garden

MIAMI , Okla. ( KOAM ) - The Peoria Tribe received the USDA's Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant, which will benefit nutrition and wellbeing for students in their Early Education Program.

This funding will allow for kitchen expansion and the creation of an on-site garden, which will provide healthier food options and educational experiences for young students.

Christina Spriggs, a mother of a toddler, is looking forward to this upgrade at Woodland Academy.

“I try to keep my daughter's diet as clean as I can but with the options that we have here locally, it can be really hard to do that sometimes. Especially certain times of the year, unless you grow it yourself at home and know what you're putting in it directly,” said Christina Spriggs.

Jolynnn Kaiser, the Director of Early Childhood, looks forward to the positive health impacts.

“Ongoing pesticides are not healthy for children. It's just really difficult to do with huge farms, so being able to buy from local farmers, we can avoid all of that and hopefully improve the health outcomes of the children that consume the food here,” said Kaiser.

The garden will also serve as an educational tool, offering children hands-on experience with gardening and an opportunity to disconnect from screens.

“Things like forgetting to water your garden bed—what happens whenever you don't water your plants? They die. But that's a learning opportunity for them,” said Kaiser.

Spriggs is excited about the increased outdoor activity the garden will provide.

“Kids need to be outside. My toddler definitely needs to be outside. She needs to run, put her feet in some dirt and grass,” said Spriggs.

Chief Harper of the Peoria Tribe is proud of the work the Peoria team does.

“The continued coordination across multiple departments shows Peoria's commitment to meeting the nutritional needs of community members in our care,” said Peoria Chief Harper.

Woodland Academy in Miami serves between 60 and 100 meals daily and is one of four tribes awarded this grant in the state of Oklahoma.

COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.