MANCHESTER, N.H.- The next time you're driving around Manchester, you may be lucky enough to share the road with one of the happiest vehicles in the city.
Patience, a third grader at Parker-Varney Elementary, was the winner of a District-wide coloring contest last spring. Students across the district were invited to design a colorful wrap and slogan for the Food & Nutrition Services vans that are used to transport food and supplies from a commissary kitchen to schools across the city. Submissions were narrowed down and voted on by members of the public, with the winner announced at the June Board of School Committee meeting.
Patience's design swept the competition with more than 40% of the vote.
The idea to let our students decorate the vehicles is one the Food & Nutrition Services Department has had for years.
"We've always thought the vans were plain and boring and really not a representation of what our district is," said Manchester School District Food Service Director Jim Connors. "Patience's design is better than anything we could have dreamed up. It's a joy for our staff to drive these vehicles now. To see the smiles on peoples faces as they notice the artwork is something special."
The project would not have been possible without the generosity of local Manchester business Sousa Signs. The company jumped at the opportunity to donate the labor and wraps for both vehicles, which were completed over the summer.
When students returned to class this month, Patience and her family were invited to check out one of the vans in person. Seeing her pride and excitement was a great moment for everyone involved in the project.
For more information on Manchester School District's Food & Nutrition Services Department and to fill out a free & reduced meals application, click here.
