WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Waynesboro Area School District’s food services department has earned the “Turnip the Beet” award for its summer 2025 meal program.
Out of the thousands of site locations (schools, child cares and churches, etc.) that provide summer meals, only 171 received the Turnip the Beet award across the nation and the local district is one of only three Pennsylvania locations to be honored with a bronze award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“We’re happy to be able to support children with these meals during the summer months,” said Ashley Rock, food service director. The program is offered to anyone 18 and younger starting in June, about two weeks after school ends, through the end of July.
In 2025, the district’s food services department served more than 27,000 bagged meals from noon to 12:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at four sites – Fairview, Summitview and Mowrey elementary schools, and Valley View Village. “The staff work diligently to prepare and provide the meals and their dedication to our community is vital to having a successful program,” Rock added. “We are proud to have them providing the children of the community with the nutritional resources they need to grow and learn.”
The program began in 2016 at Fairview Elementary School. From 2017 to 2020, it was offered at Fairview and Summitview elementary schools, Wallace Court Apartments and Valley View Village. Meals were dispensed in 2021 at Mowrey, Hooverville, Fairview and Summitview elementary schools, Wallace Court Apartments and Valley View Village, and in 2022 at Fairview and Summitview elementary schools, Wallace Court Apartments and Valley View Village. “In 2025 we dropped Wallace Courts due to low participation numbers,” Rock said.
