Maine School Administrative District/Regional School Unit 54 celebrated the start of this year’s Healthy Kid Pack Program on Oct. 25 with a visit from Maine author Lynn Plourde.

Plourde visited kindergarten students in Canaan Elementary, North Elementary and Millstream Elementary schools as well as first graders at Bloomfield Elementary School. During her visit she read two of her stories including her new book “Bella’s Fall Coat.” Each child took home their own hardcover autographed copy of the book.

Each year the New Balance Foundation funds the district’s program. The program sends home a pack of healthy food, a new book and information on healthy habits each week for 18 weeks to all kindergarten students in the district as well as the first graders at Bloomfield.

Children are encouraged to discover new healthy foods such as pomegranate and avocado. This year more than 280 children will benefit from the weekly food packs.

The program also benefits its students by providing snacks in many district classrooms, school wide fresh snack opportunities and Screen Free Week incentives as well as physical activity experiences such as miniature golf and Frisbee.

The program supports and encourages buying locally and many of the items come from Cayford Orchards, Grassland Farms and Ginny’s Natural Food Store.