Earlier this month, the North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE) announced a new partnership with The Arc Jacksonville Village, which would bring organic fruits, vegetables and herbs grown at the schools farm into the residential campus dining hall.

More than 120 adults over the age of 18 with diagnoses including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities, call The Arc Jacksonville Village home.

Debbie Johnson, board member at The Arc Jacksonville, said prior to the partnership with NFSSE, residents were fed by a full-time chef.

We have been in operations at the village for a year and we were evaluating the cost effectiveness of the food service program here, she said. During those series of conversations, we talked to the NFSSE because we knew about their Berry Good Farms culinary program.

NFSSE launched Berry Good Farms in 2011 and it not only provides sustainable food, it serves as a training opportunity for students who are transitioning out of the school, as well as compensated employment for post-graduates.

Johnson said the partnership came out of several conversations with Sally Hazelip, executive director of NFSSE.

We felt that because of the experience the school had with a culinary program that what theyd offer here would be delicious, healthy meals for our residents and that they would offer these quality meals at an affordable price, she said. We saw an opportunity for the school to come here and expand their Berry Good Farms program.

In addition to providing meals to The Arc Jacksonville Village residents, NFSSE will offer a culinary program starting in August.

We want to teach kids how to function in the kitchen as well as learn culinary skills, Hazelip said. The culinary school will be open to The Arc residents and our own students.

The Berry Good Farms launched On the Gos food truck in 2015 as a compensated employment opportunity for students.

Hazelip said the caf at The Arc Jacksonville Village will be an additional opportunity for compensation.

Within a year, well have about 15 to 20 students who will work there and get paid to cook in the afternoons, she said. Well have a caf manager, assistant manager, catering and food truck manager who will be housed there to supervise students.

Johnson said the partnership between the two entities is a natural fit.

Theres a common thread with whom we serve and, oftentimes, NFSSE students come and live here at our village, she said. Over the years, there have been other partnerships and things weve done together, and I can almost say with 100 percent certainty that this isnt the last partnership with the school.

Johnson anticipates expanding the culinary program in the future.

If we see that many of our residents and students are interested in the program, then itll get bigger, she said. If our residents learn that youre not simply watering a leafy plant, but thats a sustainable source of food, that education and awareness is so valuable.

Hazelip said the culinary program is another opportunity that has been given to students.

Whats offered here is so different than 50 years ago and our students are given opportunities they never would have had, she said. Its a gift to have a kitchen that we didnt have to raise money to build and that we can provide this service.

Hazelip added, Im excited for the possibilities of whats to happen in the next year.

Moving forward, Hazelip said volunteers will be crucial to the success of the caf and culinary program at The Arc Jacksonville Village.

Volunteers are an important aspect because we really believe so much in reverse inclusion, which means that instead of typical inclusion where our students are included in activities, people come to us, she said. Id encourage people to volunteer and work alongside our students to give them assistance reading a recipe and using a knife.

To volunteer, contact Ellen Hiser, director of Berry Good Farms, at (904) 724-8323 or ehiser@northfloridaschool.org.

Ann Friedman: (904) 359-4619

The rest is here:

The Arc partners with special education school to bring organic ... - Florida Times-Union