A northeast Kansas county’s program that pairs farmers and preschoolers to teach the children about healthy food is looking for more funding.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Douglas County’s farm-to-preschool “Healthy Sprouts” program has been funded mainly by grants that expire this year.

Officials of the three-year-old program put out the word in November that Healthy Sprouts was in danger of shutting down. Donors including the Kansas Health Foundation have given about $37,000, but program coordinator Emily Hampton says at least $50,000 is needed to operate through August.

Healthy Sprouts works with about 1,000 preschool children a year at 30 in-home day cares and eight day care centers. Activities include planting vegetable gardens, cooking with kids and teaching childcare providers about locally grown food.
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Information from: Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World