Reps. Aaron Bernstine and Marla Brown have announced that two recipients in Lawrence County will receive Farm-to-School Grants. These grants are part of a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture initiative to improve access to healthy, local food and provide agricultural learning experiences for children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Marla Brown expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I’m thrilled to see such vital funding come to our community. These grants not only help connect children to local, healthy food but also enhance their agricultural education through hands-on experiences. This is a wonderful opportunity to enrich the lives of our students and strengthen our local food systems.”
Aaron Bernstine highlighted the significance of these projects by saying, “These projects demonstrate the importance of connecting students with Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage and nutritious, locally grown food. I look forward to seeing the positive impact these grants will have on our community.”
The grant recipients in Lawrence County include Laurel School District, which will receive $7,500 to purchase a freezer for storing locally sourced fresh beef through the Pennsylvania Beef for PA Schools program. This ensures students have access to high-quality local meat.
Lawrence County Social Services will receive $15,000 for its Healthy Start Ag and Nutrition Center. The funds will maintain grow zones and cover costs for early learning field trips where students can explore gardens, greenhouses, and hydroponic labs while participating in Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month activities. Additionally, the grant supports agriculture and nutrition programming at family engagement events.
The PA Farm-to-School Grant Program has awarded a total of $462,607 across 45 schools, school districts, and childhood education centers in 26 counties.
