b'A win-win for farmers and the students,down their streets. The buses would blow Varnedoe purchased approximately 26,280their horns so the kids would come out pints of blueberries from local farmers forto get the sacks. The horns were used soIn June, the feeding program transitioned students in Clinch and Brooks counties.much we had to replace a few of them. to drive-thru service for families to pick-up a weeks worth of meals on Wednesday. It After the schools nutritional workersProviding the lunches, and especiallystarted with 500 bags and quickly jumped prepared the meals, about a dozendelivering them, was not mandated byto 900 bags, each containing breakfast and teachers, coaches, and administrative staffthe state. This was something we knewlunch meals for seven daystotaling 12,600 loaded the breakfasts and lunches intoneeded to be done. It was a positivemeals a week for local students. about 800 paper sacks. impact on our community. For parents stressed about having enough While buses werent carrying students backAs the school year transitioned to summerfood to feed their children, the school meals and forth to school, they played a big partbreak, the feeding program continued ongave them one less thing to worry about. in making sure children had enough fooda smaller scale during June. for the day.It was almost like mission work. Many of our Typically, the summer is always ateachers grew up here and came back home After loading up the buses, we said ahardship on many of our families,to teach because they love their community, prayer and started delivering, says Bell.says Bell, who has worked for Clinchsays Bell. This wouldnt have been possible We covered the entire county and madeCounty School System for 24 years as anwithout our teachers and staff, and support sure the kids that needed meals got them. English and Georgia history teacher andfrom Superintendent Lori James, the Clinch administrator. We did seven breakfasts Bell, who helped deliver meals, says theCounty School Board, local businesses, and and lunches in one bag, and they pickedpeople throughout the community that best part was seeing the excitement onthem up on Wednesday at the high the childrens faces as the school bus cameworked to make it all happen.school. BUSINESS + CULTURE 19'