Transforming Food Waste: How Wake Schools Are Turning Leftovers into Delicious Snacks for Students

A new pilot program in Wake County schools is making a big difference by repurposing food waste. Every day, this initiative saves hundreds of packaged snacks and fruits from the trash. Instead, the food is available for any student who needs a snack.

To tackle food waste, Wake County Public School System teamed up with the nonprofit Toward Zero Waste. They started the SHARE Program, which stands for Stop Hunger And Restore Earth. This program began in March and works at eight elementary schools.

Here’s how it works: during breakfast and lunch, carts are set up in cafeterias to collect uneaten items. Some students have to take certain foods, like fruit, to meet federal meal guidelines, even if they don’t eat them. After meals, school staff gather the leftover food and store it in a refrigerator or pantry cart, which is easily accessible to students at any time.

The food can be grabbed for after-school snacks or whenever someone is feeling hungry. In some schools, extra food is available at the end of the day, and it’s often taken quickly. Karen Proctor, a STEM specialist at Dillard Drive Magnet Elementary, noted, “We put it out at dismissal, and it’s gone.”

Students also have a chance to take food from the cart if they’ve given up something during lunch. Randi Jones, a magnet coordinator at Millbrook Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary, mentioned that kids often don’t eat certain items, like cauliflower, during lunch but love to pick them up later in the day.

The program teaches important lessons about sharing and conservation. Students actively participate in managing the carts, and many have suggested ways to improve the initiative, such as collecting more types of food that are currently discarded.

Currently, the program collects a range of items: packaged foods like muffins and granola bars, fresh fruit, and cold foods such as juice and hummus. However, it doesn’t yet include items like milk, which often go to waste. Leaders hope to change this in the future so that even more healthy options can be saved.

According to volunteers, the program estimates that around 41 food items are donated daily at each school. Over a typical school year of 180 days, this adds up to about 7,380 items per school — a significant impact.

The program will expand next year to include six more elementary and four middle schools, further aiding in the effort to reduce food waste and support students in need.

Research shows that food waste is a major issue across the nation, with about 30-40% of the food supply going uneaten. Programs like SHARE not only address this problem but also foster community spirit in schools. It reminds us that small efforts can lead to substantial change for both students and the environment.

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