Ferrell of Clinton YMCA awarded National Child Nutrition Conference Scholarship
Special to The Clinton Courier
Jami Ferrell of the Clinton YMCA was recently awarded the National Child Nutrition Conference Scholarship from the National CACFP Sponsors Association, one of only fifteen scholarships awarded out of more than 1,000 submissions.
Showing a strong dedication to continual improvement through professional development, Ferrell will join more than 1,000 members of the child nutrition community for a few days of training, networking, and learning opportunities at the conference, which will be held in April in New Orleans.
“We have grown so much and been able to do so much for Jackson and all the surrounding areas that our work has not gone unnoticed,” Ferrell said. “The Y served over 102,000 meals/snacks to children in the year 2021, and all the food served came from the heart of the food program.”
Ferrell started her career with the YMCA over five years ago, working with children at the I.S. Sanders Early Childhood Program at the Downtown Y. Throughout her years with the Y, Ferrell has worked at all three current branches in various aspects. In 2017, she was asked to take over the food program, which, at that time, consisted of the Reservoir and Clinton afterschool programs. In 2021, The Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi is one of the only sponsoring agencies listed in Mississippi, and the feeding program has grown to have up to twelve sites running at different times throughout the year.
Ferrell says having a hand in the fight against childhood hunger is her passion, and her goal is that the Clinton facility continues to grow and prosper. She says she is committed to making sure the facility, staff, and Y members continue to receive her full attention as the Metro YMCAs of Mississippi thrive to keep the Clinton YMCA the beacon of hope that it was in 1969 when first opened and became part of the city of Clinton.
Since 1986, the National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) is the leading national organization for sponsors who administer the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). They provide education and support to thousands of members in the CACFP community and to sponsors of all sizes from across the country.
The Clinton YMCA is located at 400 Lindale Street. For more information about the YMCA, call 601-924-5812.
