The Ogden School District’s new child nutrition center aims to serve area families

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OGDEN The Ogden School District has opened a new facility to serve the community in a variety of ways.

The Child Nutrition Program building, located at 1950 Monroe Blvd., on the district’s administrative campus will allow the district to purchase and store more dry and frozen goods while eliminating the district’s reliance on off-site food storage.

The center provides a central location for all child nutrition staff to train in a commercial-grade kitchen space. It also gives students in the Ogden school district an opportunity to gain experience working in local businesses.

The facility will also further expand the district’s programs for students with special needs.

“Cooking has been an integral part of our programs for students with disabilities in Ogden,” Karen Harrop, the district’s special education program director, said in a statement. “It has been an effective and motivating way for students to develop useful lifelong skills. Cooking has been used to implement a wide range of skills such as literacy, math, communication, motor skills, nutrition, problem solving and social skills. “It has increased independence in daily life skills and paved the way for career opportunities and educational opportunities in post-secondary culinary education programs.”

In addition, the new facility will serve as the permanent home of the MarketStar Student Resource Center, set to launch in 2021, which will serve as a central hub for Ogden students and families to purchase items such as food, clothing, cleaning products, and more. and receive hygiene and school supplies.

The district said operations “quickly exceeded capacity” at the original location. Officials hope the new location will help the district better serve Ogden’s needy families.

“Research shows that students whose basic needs are not being met are less successful in the classroom and at greater risk of dropping out. The resources we can provide through the MarketStar Student Resource Center help fill Gaps in food help. Clothing, school supplies, toiletries and other household items for every student and their family in the district, Brian Murdock, executive director of the Ogden School Foundation, said in a statement. “We are very proud of the opportunities this resource center will provide our students, along with our new support centers, to help meet our students where they are so they can succeed in their educational and life journeys.”

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