VSDB Receives $76,240 USDA Farm-to-School Grant

STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) -- The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB) was one of two Virginia recipients to receive the USDA Farm-to-School Expansion Grant to fund an expansion of the VSDB Educational Urban Farm Program.

"It's very exciting, like a dream come true because we've been given this money to start all these new projects, and improve this already amazing space that we have," said Katrina Beitz, the Educational Urban Farm Manager.

The Farm-to-School grants provide funding to increase the amount of local foods served to students and develop capacity for schools and farms to participate in Farm-to-School programs. The money will also go toward teaching students about food sources, healthy choices, and agriculture through garden and classroom education.

"Creating a paved handicapped accessible section of the garden for our students who are wheel chair bound. As well as irrigation supplies and then we'll get an apiary with two beehives," said Beitz.

With help from the grant, school's program will also benefit the community.