In a world where feeling welcomed and cared for matters more than ever, I invite you to take a look inside Hayes K–8, where students are growing and thriving with community at the heart of it all.

What is “Mommies and Muffins”?
Mommies and Muffins was thoughtfully crafted to focus on bringing moms and their children together for a fun, engaging activity. This event creates space for families to connect and enjoy time together, while also fostering relationship-building between parents and Farmer J.

On February 11 at Hayes K-8, I hosted the 2nd Annual Mommies and Muffins event. This year, we served about 40 individuals, representing 14 families! We gathered together to make pretty, pink “Sweet Beet Muffins” to keep in theme with Valentine’s Day. This vanilla-based recipe allowed space for everyone to try a seasonal vegetable that gets a lot of slack, in a new and exciting way.

How was this event created?
Mommies and Muffins was created by Jameelah Harrell (Farmer J) and Jaidyn Calvin (Farmer C) from FoodCorps. We wanted to find a new way to work together aside from the daily ways that we both served Hayes K-8. Together, we envisioned a fun and challenging way to highlight seasonal produce grown on our Teaching Farms. We know that when parents are hesitant to try new vegetables, that hesitation is often passed down to their children. Our goal was to create a space that allows parents to have the same curiosity and hands-on experience their children get when we visit their classrooms, so we opted to make the muffins ourselves, incorporating seasonal ingredients. This allowed families to see, taste, and experience produce in an approachable way.

As we remain rooted in our commitment to community, it was important to give moms a safe space to connect and relax among others who understand the vital role they play as the backbone of their families. The combination of fresh food and authentic community is what makes this event unique and special.

What does it mean to me in the 2nd year hosting?
Without FoodCorps and Jaidyn, this event was even more important this time around. I wanted to continue building on what we started and keep the spirit of joy and belonging alive in the building in my second year of hosting. This event has become a piece of my heart and a love letter to every family I get to be with each year. Parents said that the most valuable part of the event was “Learning that veggies can be delicious used in recipes” and “Spending time with the kids, of course! Also sharing with and getting to know other families.”

My students and their families are considered in every detail. The goal is to create a memorable experience that every family can talk about for years to come. When everything else falls apart, those are the moments that spark laughter and feel like a warm hug.

Thank you so much to all of the families who showed up to support this event. I enjoyed laughing and spending time with you all, even through the slight chaos that made it so much fun. To our amazing Good School Food team, I appreciate you all for helping me before and after the event—I could not have done it without you. A special thank you to Jones Valley Teaching Farm for allowing me the space to create and grow in ways that nurture my heart.

Jameelah Harrell
Good School Food Instructor