By Madie Murray
Community Journalist
Scales and other kitchen equipment were worn out and outdated long before current kitchen crew began implementing Farm to Cafeteria, made-from-scratch menus
When the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program won a $3,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education® grant to purchase vegetables from our Island farms for the 2011 Fifth Season event, Jim Wilde, Human Resources Manager at the Bellingham Lowe’s, was invited and graciously came to help us slice, dice and store more than 500 pounds of fresh local produce.
During his visit, he told us we should consider applying for an additional grant through the Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation to replace old and rapidly dying equipment in our school cafeteria as it was “exactly the type of project the Foundation sought to support,” according to Wilde.
In November, a grant application for $50,000 was submitted by the Orcas Island School District, together with the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program, to upgrade the school kitchen and home economics room equipment as well as build a root cellar on the school property. In June, the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria received a phone call stating that we had won the grant and last week, a check was received from Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation for $50,000.
“We are ecstatic!” says Superintendent Barbara Kline and Principal Kyle Freeman. “It will make the lives of our cafeteria staff so much easier. Echoing their enthusiasm, Madie Murray, Farm to Cafeteria Chair stated, “Debbie, Zach and Bing have been making amazing school lunches from scratch while refrigerators, freezers and warmers were failing right in the middle of lunch, and the steamers actually have holes in them. It’s nice to know they won’t have to deal with this any more.”
Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education®, has donated nearly $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2006. In addition, Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers (some of whom will be helping with the Orcas Island project) support local community projects and its nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross.
Range now in school cafeteria. The new equipment will not require any custom alterations/ventilation/wiring in the old kitchen to accommodate the new equipment, such as a new range, steamers, refrigerators, freezers, Hobart, etc. — even the new ovens in the home ec room.
“Lowe’s is committed to recognizing and supporting efforts that enrich the lives of our neighbors and customers,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “By supporting the Orcas Island School District, we believe we are contributing to a cause that’s important to our customers and employees and helping build a stronger foundation for the children who will be tomorrow’s employees, homeowners and community leaders.”
In 2011, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $32 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.
Our heartfelt thanks to Jim Wilde and all of the employees of Lowe’s for supporting and funding this project for our public school.
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Warm congratulations, Madie & OISD!
All of the equipment purchased with Lowe’s grant monies will be easily moved and incorporated into a new kitchen or food class room that may be built at the school in the future.
is there an email address or snail mail address for Lowes, so we can thank them for their generosity?
That would be a wonderful thing to do. There are two people who would be very happy to hear your thank you’s: Jim Wilde at James.M.Wilde@store.lowes.com who helped us so much in getting this grant, and Sarah-Frances in their PR department sarahfrances.wallace@lowes.com
That was a magnificent and worthwhile contribution by Lowe’s. They should be proud of their assistance to local schools!
What a wonderful gift from Lowe’s. In a time when everybody decries the self serving nature of Corporate America, here is a company that is looking out for others in the community.
People seem quick to grouse and complain, but here is a chance to express how wonderful somebody else’s actions are. And expressing that feels a lot better than grumbling.
I urge everybody to send a thank you email. It doesn’t have to be much. Just sending the words “Thank You” is enough.
Dear Mr. Wilde and Ms. Wallace,
Just a note to thank each of you for your efforts that helped the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program to receive a Lowe’s Charitable & Educational Grant. It is such a delight to know that the children at our school eat lunches prepared from fresh food from our Island farms, and that now, thanks to you and the folks who wrote the grant there will be much needed new equipment to replace that which was old and decaying.
Much gratitude to you all,
Virginia
This is wonderful news on so many different levels. Our Orcas children benefit as do the hardworking lunch staff, the entire school district and all of us who love to know about generosity and helpfulness. Thank You, Lowe’s!
Bravo! I send sincere appreciation for those who put together the grant application. and thanks to Lowes for an amazing and much needed gift that will greatly benefit our school community.