Lima school board honors food-service director

LIMA - Carrie Woodruff isn't just helping to feed Lima schools pupils. She's also making sure other school districts are providing healthy meals for their pupils.

The Children's Hunger Alliance recognized the district's food-service director during Tuesday's Lima school board meeting.

"You have the best example of a breakfast program in Ohio and we send millions of calls your way," Peggy Foland, of the alliance, said before presenting Woodruff with a Children's Hunger award.

Woodruff has been with Lima schools for 10 years, and began the current breakfast in the classroom program in 2003. Foland said the alliance and school districts around the state often turn to Woodruff for advice and assistance.

"She has figured out a way to put breakfast in the classroom and get teachers to actually take hunger seriously," she said. "And to know that a child can't learn on an empty stomach."

Woodruff credits the cafeteria workers at the schools for implementing the breakfast program and for finding innovative ways of doing it.

"I have a great staff that works with me. Without their help, I couldn't do it," she said.

Woodruff has been featured in national magazines and has been asked to speak around the state. She has also taken on the job of making sure Lima pupils can get school uniforms, Superintendent Karel Oxley said.

"She's provided clothing for thousands and thousands of our kids," she added.

The Children's Hunger Alliance is a statewide, nonprofit organization that has been working since the 1970s to break the cycle of hunger in Ohio. It works with schools and other organizations to expand participation in child nutrition programs and to raise awareness of the impact of hunger on child development, health and learning.