School Nutrition AgriCulture Garden fundraiser set Sept. 14

School Nutrition AgriCulture Garden Foundation team members believe children deserve more outdoor educational experiences.

To support its mission, SNAC will host its Homeroom Harvest fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, at Good Earth Market in Ocean View. Attendees will enjoy a harvest table experience with artisanal selections, an open bar, live music and a silent auction. All proceeds will directly support SNAC’s school garden program.

SNAC enriches communities by cultivating meaningful relationships with nature, food and personal well-being. The program offers students practical lessons on how the ecosystem works, how food is grown, and how to sustainably interact with the environment. Students also learn valuable social and stress-management skills, such as mindfulness, in the garden.

Kim Furtado, ND, is a naturopathic doctor who founded SNAC in 2011. She emphasizes the importance of SNAC’s initiatives, which foster environments where children can feel empowered and thrive. "By integrating nutritional education and emotional well-being into schools, SNAC addresses key aspects of health that are often overlooked in traditional education," said Furtado. "This fundraiser is a celebration of how we can work together to create a healthier and happier future for our children."

Working with fruit and fig trees, raised beds, pollinator gardens, native plantings and greenhouses, students learn how to actively engage as inquisitive scientists, observant artists and vivid taste explorers in a living ecosystem right outside their classrooms. With support from the community, SNAC provides service to more than 2,200 students at North Georgetown Elementary, Long Neck Elementary, Howard T. Ennis School and the flagship school since 2011, Southern Delaware School of the Arts.

The Sussex County-grown program is dedicated to providing equitable access to outdoor learning. Starting in kindergarten, SNAC immerses students in an on-site, biodiverse garden for up to 10 to 15 hours per year. Executive Director Shandra Furtado said, “Providing students this outdoor learning experience is not limited to students whose teachers are willing to come outside, get dirty, maintain the garden and teach. Our SNAC curriculum covers STEAM learning standards across K to 5 grades, and instead of putting an added burden on classroom teachers, SNAC provides garden coordinators to each partner school.”

Sponsors this year include Earth Champion; Scott and Shuman Law; Ecosystem Stewards; Kim Furtado, ND; Henlopen Oyster House; and Plantation Lakes Golf & Country Club. Seedling Caretakers include Derby Mill Farm and DCM Insights. The silent auction will include a chance to win dinner for 10 at Good Earth Market, along with a variety of gifts, services and experiences from local businesses.

For more information, go to snacgardens.org.