Michigan Team Brings Literacy to the Cafeteria Table

Community

Pairing reading with nutrition and community connection

The Chartwells team at Swan Valley School District in Michigan recently partnered with the READ Association of Saginaw to bring families together for an engaging afternoon dedicated to literacy, learning, and community connection.

Designed to encourage a love of reading for the whole family, the literacy event welcomed over 40 families for two hours of interactive fun. Families explored activity tables hosted by local organizations, played games, enjoyed popcorn, and selected free books to take home.

The event also highlighted the power of community collaboration. A connection was first formed in October 2025 when Melissa Pavlik, Director of Dining Services with Chartwells at Swan Valley, partnered with the READ Association of Saginaw for a fifth-grade farmers market event. That partnership continued to grow into meaningful literacy-focused programming for local families throughout the district.

Combining literacy with March’s National Nutrition Month, Pavlik featured bookmark-style recipes inspired by children’s books, including a Green Eggs and Ham-inspired avocado egg salad sandwich. Families received both the recipe and fresh avocados to recreate the experience at home, blending reading and healthy eating in a fun and memorable way.

Interested in bringing engaging, nutrition-inspired experiences like this to your school community? Click here to connect with our team!