Four Copper Country Schools earn grant awards supporting locally grown food in meals

Hancock Public School is one of 251 grantees awarded funding for the 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan Kids and Farms program in 2024 and 25. The state-funded program provides schools, early care, and education centers, and organizations working with the USDA Child Nutrition Program with grant funds to purchase Michigan-grown food and afford local transportation costs, and food service labor expenses. Hancock Public School’s award was spearheaded by food service program coordinator Shelby Turnquist.

The district is one of four in Houghton County to receive a grant award. The program will grant more than 56,000 dollars in the Upper Peninsula with 14 districts. The remaining funds of the 4.5 million dollars in grant awards will be dispersed to groups in the Lower Peninsula. Hancock Public Schools will receive 2,179 dollars. HPTS was awarded the most funding by the program with a 11,034 dollar award. Copper Island Academy receives a 1,015 dollar grant, and Chassell schools earns 516 dollars to support the program.

The program supports organizations and districts across 64 of Michigan’s 83 counties. During the 2024-25 program year 10 cents a meal for Michigan kids and farms awards 4.5 million dollars to 251 organizations in the state, impacting more than 600,000 students. The program works complimentary to the state’s Free Meals program provides breakfast and lunch while kids are in school, and supplies locally grown food to districts. Those interested in learning more about the 2024-25 10 cents a meal grant awards in the state of Michigan supporting locally grown nutritional food in schools can find more details at here.