"We bake so many things from scratch. It's different from other districts where they take it from the freezer and put it in the oven. Opaa! employees take the recipe out and they don't just put the ingredients in it, they put the love in it. I've seen so many of our bakers who put their whole heart into what they're making. When that kid comes up for that hot roll they know that the baker cared about that and it tastes so great to them.

For a child to come into our cafeteria means that we get 30 minutes to brighten their day. It can be through the food, but it doesn't stop there. It can be through the smile on your face, the way you present it, the way you talked to them about the football game or the cool shirt they have on. It's about having the relationship with that child, each customer you have that day. That, to me, is making their day."

Anna Barton
Director of Nutrition Services
McDonald County R-I School District

"Opaa! doesn't look the same in every district. They're not a cookie cutter group that comes in and installs the same thing everywhere. They're very flexible and willing to work with you.

We recently applied for a $75,000 grant to be used for healthier food choices and more attractive food choices (from trays to the servings). When writing that grant proposal, I immediately sat down with our Opaa! food director. She showed me how the grant's parameters actually aligned with Opaa's goals as a corporation. Overnight, teachers and students and kitchen staff became involved in the grant.

We could not have received that money, or done all the initiatives we did, and been as successful as we were, without Opaa's cooperation."

Brad MacLaughlin
Superintendent
Lexington R-V School District