Cultivating Growth with Go NAPSACC
Through Go NAPSACC’s tailored coaching, Faith Academy successfully transformed its menu by partnering with a local grocer to serve fresh, regional each week. This farm-to-table shift has sparked community-wide enthusiasm, laying the groundwork for an upcoming school garden project.
Jasmine Potter, Director of Faith Academy in St. Louis County, always dreamed of integrating consistent Farm to ECE practices into her program’s daily operations. However, early attempts repeatedly hit roadblocks. The turning point came when Faith Academy joined Go NAPSACC. Through structured, personalized action plans and dedicated technical assistance from her coach, Lori Schumer, Jasmine and her team overcame those barriers.
A central highlight of this transformation was partnering with a local grocery store to fulfill weekly food orders with regional farm produce. The store’s department managers eagerly stepped up to help navigate seasonal availability and introduce new varieties of fruits and vegetables. By transitioning to serving whole foods whenever possible, Faith Academy has made it easy for children to recognize exactly what they are eating. In April, broccoli was their “Harvest of the Month,” and children enjoyed broccoli in many forms throughout the month.
This healthy shift has ignited a wave of enthusiasm reaching far beyond the kitchen. Teachers now use interactive "plant-to-plate" posters to spark daily mealtime table topics, teaching children the true journey of their food. Moving forward as an active CACFP participant, the center plans to channel this incredible family buy-in toward its ultimate goal: establishing a full school garden.
Are you interested in cultivating growth with Go NAPSACC? You will receive personalized support, practical tools, and the inspiration needed to turn your wellness goals into reality. Click here to register and join other child care programs across the state in supporting children's health and wellness!
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