Students at Brainerd High School Wednesday morning were treated to a free breakfast as part of the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee Legacy Fund's two-day stop in Brainerd.
Karl Samp, Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation executive director, and Jackie Thurlow, community specialist for Crow Wing Energized, handed out apples and milks to students during the "second chance" breakfast period at BHS.
Students streaming through the cafeteria were surprised by the complimentary breakfast, as food service workers told them they didn't have to pay for the breakfast.
Following the breakfast, a group of about 15 students joined event organizers in a classroom for a presentation led by events coordinator Allison Smith Steffenhagen. The event, a "milk toast," saw students put on capes and stick-on milk mustaches before an early-morning toast of milk.
Studies show children who eat a healthy breakfast are prepared to learn in the classroom, Samp said. Student Lindsey Booth, reading a statement prepared by event organizers, said a healthy breakfast benefits students of all ages, from kindergarten through high school.
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"Let's raise our milk cartons and take a big swig to celebrate," Booth said.
The event is part of the fund's "52 Weeks of Giving." The charitable effort, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health's Statewide Health Improvement Program, will provide 52 grants over the next 52 weeks leading up to Super Bowl LII.
The free breakfast was part of the fund's Super School Breakfast grant program, a campaign to implement Fuel Up to Play 60's Breakfast-in-the-Classroom program in elementary, middle and high schools in 52 communities statewide leading up to Super Bowl LII. Super School Breakfast is in partnership with Fuel Up to Play 60 and the Midwest Dairy Council. Students at BHS South Campus were also treated to a complimentary breakfast Wednesday morning.
In a presentation at Garfield Elementary School Tuesday afternoon, the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee Legacy Fund presented Crow Wing Energized with a $50,000 grant. Those funds will be used to purchase a fleet of 60 bicycles, which will help promote youth bicycle use and safety in Crow Wing County.
