WILMINGTON — Out of more than 40 states who applied, a national initiative is coming to North Carolina to help address childhood obesity.

FoodCorps is a new national service program that will work with the state and school systems to teach kids to enjoy a healthy and nutritious diet. The FoodCorps is now accepting applications for service members. They want a total of eight to 10 service members to provide educational programs at schools in Gaston, Moore, Guilford, Warren, New Hanover, and Brunswick counties.

 
They are asking those who apply to give one year of full-time public service, with a stipend for their efforts.
 
"The service members will go to those locations and work in nutrition education and garden programming in the school, and in farm to cafeteria programs," said Tes Thraves, with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems.  CEFS is helping organize the initiative in North Carolina.

Organizers said the key to success for the FoodCorps program is providing students with the education and hands on experience that encourages healthy food choices.

"We hope that Child Nutrition Programs will be incorporating more fresh vegetables and fruits in to their menus, and teach children the importance of these fresh foods and improve their diets so we can decrease the incidents of obesity," said Jane Steigerwald, with Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program.

The funding to pay the service members is coming from various state and national organizations.