During the 2025-2026 school year, the Manistee Area Public Schools Nutrition Services program provided a total of 271,260 meals to students, families, older adults and community members across the district’s service area
Through the National School Lunch Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program, running Sept. 2, 2025, through June 6, 2026, the department served:
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Breakfast: 72,769 mealsLunch: 142,951 mealsSnack: 12,431 mealsTotal: 228,151 meals
Beyond the school buildings, the department also supports the broader Manistee community. From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Nutrition Services provided 42,869 meals through the Meals on Wheels program and 240 meals through its partnership with the Little River Band, bringing that total to 43,109 meals
“Every one of those numbers represents a student who came to class ready to learn, or a neighbor who didn’t have to worry about their next meal,” Superintendent Ronald Stoneman said. “That’s the kind of work our Nutrition Services team does every single day, and it deserves to be recognized.”
Nutrition Services Director Haleigh Savage said the work goes beyond the cafeteria line. The department also runs a hydroponic growing system that gives students a hands-on look at where food comes from, an initiative Savage said reflects the team’s commitment to student learning as much as student nutrition
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“Our staff shows up early, works hard, and cares about every kid who walks through the line,” Savage said. “These numbers are proof of what a small team can do when they’re committed to this community.”
As Mariners, the Nutrition Services staff carry that commitment beyond the cafeteria, working every day to put a good meal within reach for students and neighbors across the community
For more information about MAPS Nutrition Services, including menus and program eligibility, visit manisteemariners.org
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