Associate Food Service Director, Tina Bushey, was recently awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Food & Nutrition Services of the USDA in recognition and appreciation for her amazing contribution to the Swanton School being certified a Gold winner of the USDA HealthierUS Challenge. This award has only been granted one other time in the state of Vermont and was made possible largely to Tina’s efforts. Congratulations Tina! 
Justin Williams was given an award in recognition of his outstanding efforts in food service at Lyndon Town School.
The Abbey Group has partnered with Capstone Community Action in an effort to support the Community Kitchen Academy program that they host.
Capstone is a local nonprofit that provides comprehensive services to help Vermonters’ achieve economic well-being with dignity. Capstone is also working to develop partnerships that strengthen Vermont communities. They are committed to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty, to work with individuals and families to move out of poverty, and to advocate for economic justice for all Vermonters.
Community Kitchen Academy (CKA) prepares underemployed and unemployed Vermonters for a career in the food service industry and lifelong learning through an intensive program of culinary skills development, career readiness and job placement. Students actively develop and apply new skills by creating wholesome meals for those at risk of hunger using food that has been gathered from within our communities that may otherwise go to waste.
Upon graduation, students are well positioned to obtain a job in the food service industry and are ServSafe certified, a recognized food service industry standard. They develop valuable life and professional skills through the program including goal establishment, résumé writing, interviewing skills, conflict management and budgeting. Additionally, CKA graduates can receive nine college-level academic transfer credits from the Vermont State College of External Programs.
The Abbey Group has partnered with the Vermont Food Bank to educate students on childhood hunger and the hardship of food insecurity. The effort started in May when all lunch menus featured facts about childhood hunger in Vermont and “Kate”, an illustration of a girl who represents the thousands of Vermont children who struggle with hunger. As a part of the effort, The Abbey Group hosted canned food drives at over 25 schools around the state and donated $2,500 dollars to the Vermont Food Bank.
“The objective was to promote tolerance and civic responsibility.” Marketing Director of The Abbey Group said “We wanted to engage students by giving them the facts and then offering a way to help the cause.”
The Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving communities in all 14 counties of Vermont through a network of more than 280 food shelves, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers and after-school programs. The Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation.
