Youth & Family Services Nutrition Program strives to provide healthy, nutritious and quality foods to the children and families we serve. Recently, YFS has partnered with the Black Hills chapter of Dakota Rural Action to provide fresh produce to children within YFS programming.

Dakota Rural Action is an organization that is passionate about healthy food choices for themselves, their family and the community.  They are interested in helping local growers promote and share their produce, meats, cheeses and other locally raised foods to individuals and institutions, such as YFS.

Children from YFS Girls Incorporated® and YFS Child Care were able to learn about and enjoy locally grown corn in a fun, hands-on way this past month. Through the connection that the YFS Nutrition Program Director, Darcie Decker, was able to make with members of Dakota Rural Action, YFS was able to purchase 300 ears of fresh sweet corn from a local grower in Belle Fourche, S.D. When the corn was delivered to the Nutrition Program site, children from Girls Inc. and Child Care were ready to start shucking. It was quite a site seeing so many children eager to help prepare their lunches for that afternoon. One member of Girls Inc. stated, “I’ve never got to do this before. It’s pretty fun!” while another noted her favorite part was picking out, “the whiskers,” or silk, from the corn.

YFS Nutrition Program Director, Darcie Decker stated, “The YFS Nutrition Program is interested in sharing fresh produce with a great-fresh flavor, high nutritional value and less processed foods for our children.  We want children to embrace and enjoy the wonderful fresh, locally grown foods. “

The children all certainly seemed to embrace their experience with shucking the corn when lunch time rolled around. Decker noted that the first thing missing from most plates was the corn. Many children also requested seconds. One little boy in particular stated,” This sweet corn is delicious! This is the best meal!”

YFS is excited to be able to support our local growers while providing new experiences and quality foods to the children and families we serve.

Filed under: Articles by Brianna