SOUTH SHORE YMCA

SSYMCA, Friends of Holly Hill Farm and Weymouth Public Schools receive USDA Grant

Posted: Aug. 16, 2019 Learn More About the SSYMCA Family Farm

The South Shore YMCA, Friends of Holly Hill Farm and the Weymouth Public Schools are proud to announce that they are the recipients of a $92,778 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to conduct farm-to-school programming at all eight Weymouth public elementary schools and one middle school during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years.

The comprehensive “Digging In Together” program will include the construction of garden beds at each of the eight schools, state STE (Science, Technology and Engineering) curriculum-connected school garden education classes, teacher trainings, afterschool programs, summer programs and a farmer’s market program, all focused on improving the knowledge and attitudes of WPS students towards eating fresh, healthy, locally grown vegetables.

“We are very excited about the experiential opportunities our students will be afforded because of this wonderful collaboration with the YMCA’s South Shore Natural Science Center and Friends of Holly Hill Farm,” said Dr. Jennifer Curtis-Whipple, Superintendent of the Weymouth Public Schools. “Attending field trips to the farm, creating gardens at our schools and enjoying harvested produce at school while learning about the science through connected lessons bring the curriculum to life. Most importantly, our students will develop the knowledge needed to make healthy choices.”

Jon Belber, Education Director at Holly Hill Farm, said, “We are thrilled that our collaboration with the SSYMCA has resulted in our organizations receiving funding from USDA that allows us to expand our teaching partnership with the Weymouth Public Schools. Our plan is to not only to reach current WPS students through the field trips, school garden programs and cafeteria taste tests. WPS teachers will also come to the farm for special training so they can continue this farm-to-school education program after funding from USDA ends.”

“Positive behavior changes around eating habits cannot happen overnight,” said Paul Gorman, President & CEO of the South Shore YMCA, “but they are absolutely crucial to living a long, healthy life. Our collaborating team’s thoughtful, long-term approach to affect change in this sphere with local children reflects this knowledge. We are deeply grateful to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for this precedent setting grant, and for the ability to collaborate with our partners to bring this important education to the kids of Weymouth.”

For more information about the South Shore YMCA’s South Shore Natural Science Center, please contact Chris Jacobs, Executive Director, at 781-659-2559 or cjacobs@ssymca.org. For more information about the Friends of Holly Hill Farm, please contact Janice McPhillips at 781-383-6565 or jbbmcphillips@gmail.com.

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The South Shore YMCA is a charity serving twelve local communities: Quincy, Randolph, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Holbrook, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Norwell and Hanover. For information on how to support its work through volunteering or donations, contact Mary Orne at morne@ssymca.org or 781-264-9400 ext. 3306. Financial Assistance is a Y community benefit available to all families in need, applicable to all Y programs and services.

Holly Hill Farm is a certified organic farm set on 140 acres of beautiful conservation land with a mission to use the land for education about conservation and sustainable agriculture. Its award-winning farm stand (Best of Boston 2017) offers fresh vegetables and herbs, flowers, eggs and honey as well as thoughtfully curated and locally sourced artisanal products. The farm is managed by the nonprofit Friends of Holly Hill Farm who oversees school field trips, summer camps, public workshops and events as well as school garden education programs at 35 partner schools in 9 South Shore cities and towns as well as in Boston. For information on how to support its work through volunteering or donations please visit www.hollyhillfarm.org.