During the 2011-2012 school year, the School Food Service (SFS) Department introduced The OrganWise Guys (OWG) to all elementary schools. At that time, we had secured Food of the Month Kits through a partnership with the former Florida Department of Education – Food and Nutrition Management Office. The kits included two sets of 25 colorful and informative Foods of the Month posters, 24 Foods of the Month buttons, 24 Foods of the Month laminated cards, and OWG window clings. Throughout the first year, about 10 elementary managers coordinated events in their school sites. Many took the children on a journey with the OWG characters to teach them how to be healthy and smart from the inside out.

To keep the OWG program fresh and exciting for both SFS managers and students, the department agreed to purchase material to support school-sites that were interested in coordinating events. Managers had the option to borrow items from the department’s “lending” library or submit a proposal for their own school kit. During the 2012-2013 school year, we purchased 15 educational baskets that SFS managers utilized for assembly functions and classroom learning. The baskets included a small OWG doll, a music CD, an apron, a set of bookmarks, and a roll of stickers.

Our department was able to market the OWG program through various methods. We requested a “shout-out” video to be created which spotlighted the schools that had organized events. (see link below) The elementary lunch menus were utilized to promote the Foods of the Month and highlighted the items when offered in the school cafeterias. In addition, the Nutrition & Wellness Promotion Team did an OWG presentation at the August 9, 2012 in-service for all managers and dedicated a portion of the nutrition lesson to OWG during the manager intern training on December 11, 2012.

The baskets included a small OWG doll, a music CD, an apron, a set of bookmarks, and a roll of stickers.