Indian Creek’s White receives award

MINGO JUNCTION -- The Indian Creek Local Board of Education recognized one of its own for his efforts to ensure that no child goes hungry when district Food Service Director Eric White received a special distinction on Thursday.

Superintendent T.C. Chappelear surprised White with honors from the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools, which touts school employees for going above and beyond the call of duty. Dozens of school employees are recognized annually with the CORAS Outstanding Support Staff Award and White was gifted with a clock inscribed with words of appreciation for his hard work and dedication.

"We have honored our treasurer and last year we recognized a paraprofessional. This year's theme was 'Heroes' and they wanted us to look back to last spring. I asked our administrative team to nominate someone and we are presenting the award to Eric White," Chappelear said. "We constantly ask Eric, 'Can we do this?' and the answer is always 'yes.'"

White said he was extremely surprised by the honor. Now in his fourth year, he has actively helped provide students with nutrition through the popular Breakfast in the Classroom initiative, which has garnered awards and attention on the state level and reduced hunger in children so they can be successful academically. He said the district is currently feeding about 2,100 pupils.

Assistant Superintendent John Belt said when the administrative council recommended the district to go fully remote this past week, he contacted Chappelear to see what could be done to make sure students were still being fed. White helped formulate plans for food to be distributed to families and parents may procure boxes from any of the school buildings. Students receive a box with two breakfast and lunch meals each day, including for weekends, and food was being sent home through the holiday break.

"Eric is working with the busing to deliver to children (whose parents have no transportation to collect the boxes)," he added. "We are trying to get food out to kids who may not have it at their house."

White said meals were being sent through Friday and continued for the following week until Sunday.

"We'll take boxes to the home to help families who don't have transportation to pick up meals," he continued. "They can come to any of the buildings."

The program follows Seamless Summer Feeding Program guidelines and is open to any district youth under the age of 18. For information, contact White at (740) 264-3277 or email eric.white@iclsd.org.