Federal Way Schools Launch Food and Learning Bus
by School's Out Washington | | Posted under
by Janet Schmidt, Chief Program and Policy Officer
Photo by King5. Click to see more photos.
Last week I got to see the FRED bus program in Federal Way, Washington. These bright green buses go out into communities and provide healthy nutritious lunches to kids AND provide fun activities to boot!
A group of concerned businesses and supporters in Federal Way found a creative way to stem summer learning loss by retrofitting school buses. Called FRED for Fun, Read, Eat, Dream, it’s a pioneering program to take activities to the neighborhoods where students live. More than 56 percent of Federal Way public school students qualify for free and reduced lunch, and generally have less access to summer enrichment opportunities and balanced meals than other students.
FRED is possible through the US Department of Agriculture and community partners including The City of Federal Way, United Way of King County, St. Francis Hospital, Communities in Schools of Federal Way, the Multi Service Center of South King County, the Federal Way Lions Club, Rotary and the South King County Firefighters Foundation. The Federal Way AmeriCorps Program and VISTA will provide tutoring. What a creative solution provided by community.
