Newsletter August 6, 2026

Minden Rotary Club President Pat Garrahan and DCSD Nutrition Director Jordy Foster

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL'S NUTRITION PROGRAM APPRECIATES THE CONTRIBUTION FROM ROTARY'S SMASH HUNGER TOURNAMENT

Today’s speaker was Jordy Foster, Director of Douglas County School Nutrition Program.  She reported that the Pickleball Smash Hunger Tournament was a great fundraiser to increase the impact of Angel Accounts.  Angel Accounts have been set up for many years, but didn’t have funds available on all of them.  They are set up and designated at each school site solely for the purpose of feeding kids. The school nutrition program is USDA funded separately from district funds.  Having Smash Hunger in it’s first year was a huge success, they received $11,356 and spent $13,031 but had some money in their account to cover the overspending.  Since the Smash Hunger check was not received until December it was utilized when the kids came back from break.
 
There is no centralized kitchen that is making the food elsewhere and shipping it to the schools to be reheated.  DC schools are fully equipped and make everything daily and do as much speed scratch as they can.  Having a full meal does make a difference in learning.  This is proven by schools which were doing special testing and offering free breakfasts to all their students just to make sure that the students would be able to go into their testing with full stomachs and concentrate on the work that needs to be done.  
 
The lunch ladies (all female staff) are proud that they didn’t have to deny a single student and that has a big impact.  The staff has a very low absentee percentage and are devoted and committed  to be able to feed the kids.  They care about presentation and the that food tastes good. Community involvement really was a difference maker to these students.  The funds earned at community fundraisers stays in the Angel Accounts and is not used for anything else.  It is not used for any adult meal or any snack purchases, it only goes to a full breakfast or lunch.
 
In order to receive free or low cost meals the families are required to fill out an application.  Being low income or needy does not automatically qualify the student for free or reduced cost meals.  The USDA standards for application are the same for all schools across the US.  The Angel Account system is entirely digital so there is no ticket required for a meal and the student’s eligibility is confidential.  If the family is receiving SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, (which is a food distribution of Indian Reservations programs) these different programs can qualify the students to be on free or reduced cost measures.  However, there are some students that fall through the cracks and they try to identify them and reach out to get them on the program.  An average of 35% of students qualify for free or reduced meals in Douglas County.
 
Student meals have to include at least 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetables.  That said it is not required that all the students eat them.  The program goes to extra effort to not use plastic wrapped food in their meals.  The USDA requires that there is 51% whole grain in all the items including pizza crust and  chicken nuggets.  Student breakfast meals at elementary, middle & high schools cost $2.25.  Lunch is $3.25 for elementary, $3.75 for middle and $4.00 for high school.  There is a different menu for each level.

August 6 - Jerry Bucklin - NES Systems

     Note:  Foundation Board meeting immediately after the meeting

August 13 - Eric Jessen - Medical Research

August 20 - Dave Bianchi - Polio Plus

August 27 - Millie Siebel - Golf Tournament Recap

July 24-26, 30-31 and August 1-2 “A Piece of My Heart”, Carson Valley Community Theatre.  Tickets and show times at www.carsonvalleycommunitytheatre.org

July 31 - Genoa Wine Walk, The Genoa Gallery

August 1, 11am-2pm - Young at Heart Summer BBQ.  Fundraiser for Senior Programs.  Tickets $10 presale or $15 at the door.  Live Music, raffle, outdoor games.

August 4 - New member meeting

August 27 - Club social at Aces baseball game. They play the River Cats. Tickets behind home plate are $75.

August 24 Meeting to be held at Volage Senior Living Facility

August 28 - Hotdogs at Minden Concerts in the Park - 2 shifts each time, 4-6P and 6-8P.

August 28 and 29 Rotary Youth Exchange Orientation in Minden and Gardnerville - Zach is looking for host families for two nights.  12 exchange kids will be coming into town for orientation.  August 28th they will join us at the Minden Concert in the Park.  August 29th they will attend orientation at the DC Community Center and then head to Lake Tahoe for some Beach time.

September 18 - Hotdogs at Minden Concerts in the Park - 2 shifts each time, 4-6P and 6-8P.

September 19 - Rotary Club Minden's Oktoberfest @ Heritage Park

October 10 - Chili Cook Off/ Fundraiser - Graham is looking for chili recipes

October 10 - Karaoke Cookout for CV Magic- 4pm in Genoa

October 28 - Rotary Night at the Knight Monsters at the Tahoe Blue Events Center

December 17 - Minden Rotary Club Christmas Holiday party

2027

February 14 - Super Bowl Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser

Spring - Smash Hunger Fundraiser

May 15 - Minden Rotary Club Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser

AUGUST

BIRTHDAYS

4- Bruce Borggreve (Jill's husband)

14 - Leah Casper (Ric's wife)

 

ANNIVERSARIES

  7 - John and Judy Breylinger

  14 - Ric and Leah Casper

25 - Zach and Holly Fretz
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