San Luis Elementary

Through this grant, our school would like to offset the obesity cycle among our youth and create an environment that teaches the importance of nutrition through gardening, enhances the school educational curriculum by making it engaging for students, teach healthy behaviors as a family unit and offer fresh produce in a community otherwise considered a food desert. This is especially important because 75% of the adult population within Maverick County (Eagle Pass is the county seat) is considered overweight or obese and 13% have been diagnosed with diabetes (Texas DSHS BRFSS, 2010). Maverick County is located along the Texas-Mexico border with a predominantly Hispanic population and experiences high poverty levels and low levels of education, both linked to higher obesity rates and poor food choices. Our goal is to provide children and parents a satisfying experience of planting, cultivating and harvesting fruits and vegetables to create a lifelong appreciation for healthy living.