During any given month my third grader anxiously comes home from school with a bright colored paper announcing a school fundraiser. It could be collecting a dollar to add a feather to a giant turkey benefiting the local social services office, or a reminder to collect and turn-in Box-Tops for Education. But the tried and true bake sale and candy sales still drive fundraising efforts.
However, these old-school ways of raising funds may have come to the end of the road as the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected in the spring to come out with a proposal that will set nutrition standards for food sold at schools, such as in vending machines or a la cart. It may not allow for infrequent fundraisers or bake sales that offer up unhealthy food such as candy or cookies.
While having the USDA regulate school nutrition and provide nutrition education to show students the link between diet and health is good, the proposed new standards may have adverse effects on the schools’ fundraising efforts.
“I want to thank you for supporting our school by participating in our fundraising program. As you know, it’s an important effort to ensure we have the resources needed for this year’s educational resources,” my daughter’s fall fundraiser kick-off letter read. It echoed the fact that most schools rely on fundraisers to supplement their funding.
My school chose to do a cookie dough fundraiser to help raise money and keep the fundraising program short and simple for parents, but some would argue the cost are much greater than the gain. Proponents of the proposed standards believe it will curve childhood obesity.
Louis Rainey of Treatment Education Addiction Management (T.E.A.M) non-profit believes that childhood obesity has overwhelmed our society an added it to the organization’s mission.
“Today children are addicted to candy, fast food and other unhealthy lifestyle choices because it is ingrained in so many aspects of their lives, from fundraisers that require them to sell cookies to friends and families to being rewarded for good grades with certificates for meals at fast food restaurants. It is not easy but we must work together to change the culture,” Rainey said.
On the heels of National nutrition month in April, T.E.A.M with the Molina Medical Center will have a community outreach program focusing on health and wellness with information, screening, and activities for Irving residents. Only food vendors with healthy choices will participate in the event. Rainey said this is by design.
Kabriel Lynn, PTA Fundraiser Chair at James R. Billheartz Jr. Elementary, explained that the economic climate makes it considerably difficult to sell something to friends and family that they might not want or need.
“Food always sells,” said Lynn.
Recently, her PTA hosted a family night where they sold pizza, popcorn, and soft drinks. While the event did raise money it also provided an opportunity for students and families to commune at the school. Under the proposed regulation the event could still have happened but with different food choices that may have not been as cost effective or appealed to the students and their families.
Lynn went on further to say if the regulations were to stop them from selling unhealthy food it would be a challenge but the PTA and other school fundraising groups would still come up with something.
We have seen attempts to regulate parents and their children’s eating habits before when a California county attempted to pass legislation on banning toys passed out with children’s meals at fast food restaurants and it didn’t work. We have to be cautious of this slippery slope.
While the proposed standards have not happened yet, I will keep my cupcake tins out but also get my panini press ready.
Written by Blue Ribbon News special contributor Hope Oriabure of Garland, who holds a journalism degree from the University of North Texas . She is a freelance writer who contributes to business websites and other online publications. She is the owner of Black Tie Babysitting in Garland , a ‘play-care-to-go’ service that specializes in entertaining and supervising children on-site at wedding receptions, conventions, family reunions and other special events.
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