South Carolina School Cooking Up Success

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 08 Feb 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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North District Middle School in Varnville, South Carolina, was selected from more than 60 applicants nationwide to receive the first-ever School Nutrition Foundation' Winston Industries Equipment Award. The school kitchen, serving the only middle school in Hampton School District One, will receive quality commercial kitchen equipment including Holding Cabinets, Holding Drawers and a Steamer from Winston Industries, Inc. - a leading foodservice equipment manufacturer located in Louisville, Kentucky.

School nutrition coordinator Mozelle Murdaugh applied for the Equipment Award for North District Middle School to update the 40-year-old kitchen equipment that often needs expensive repairs. "Having this equipment would allow students to receive another daily choice of healthy entrees," said Murdaugh. "The new steamer will be used to steam more foods and fresh vegetables." Funds that would have been spent to purchase the needed equipment will now go to improving services and giving students even more healthy options for lunch.

As school nutrition programs nationwide provide healthy school breakfasts and lunches to students at a national average of less than $2.00 per balanced meal, costs to upgrade and replace kitchen equipment are often difficult to cover. For this reason, the School Nutrition Foundation' Winston Industries Equipment Award was created in 2007 to assist school nutrition programs to secure the equipment they need to continue to offer quality, nutritious meals. "With the trend towards more fruits and vegetables, whole grain items and less fried foods in schools, the need for modern kitchen equipment becomes even greater. The School Nutrition Foundation is proud to work with Winston Industries to make this much needed Equipment Award possible to North District Middle School," said SNF President Janey Thornton, PhD, SNS.

"With the assistance of the School Nutrition Foundation we feel we have identified a very real economic situation and need in school foodservice. This type of assistance is going to provide North District Middle School the opportunity to make a great nutritional impact on their community and serve students quicker and more efficiently. Winston Industries is delighted to be able to offset the total costs of renovation and equipment upgrades," said Jill Conklin of Winston Industries. "It is our opportunity to give back to a dedicated group of foodservice professionals and truly help provide solutions in child nutrition programs." North District Middle School will receive the ten pieces of new kitchen equipment this spring. Plans are currently underway to offer the School Nutrition Foundation' Winston Industries Equipment Award again this summer.

About the School Nutrition Foundation

The School Nutrition Foundation, established in 1964, is a non-profit corporation that provides high-quality professional development, financial aid and research programs to child nutrition professionals and members of the School Nutrition Association (SNA.) The Foundation's commitment to the child nutrition community is integral to implementing positive change in school meals and, ultimately, to the health of school children. SNA is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals.

About Winston Industries

Winston Industries, LLC is an international manufacturer and distributor of foodservice equipment. Founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1969, the company manufacturers Collectramatic® and CVap foodservice equipment.

Winston Industries