Sacramento Schools Teaming With United Way To Get Students Drinking More Water
SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) — Elementary school officials are making a push for their students to ditch soda and drink more water.
Their school doesn't have a water fountain in the cafeteria, so the district is working with the United Way to change that.
"About one-third of the students in our region are overweight or obese, and part of what united way is working toward is to decrease obesity by 20 percent," said Casy Gray with the United Way.
DONATE: Help get students better access to water in schools.
It's partnering with the Robla Elementary School District to provide resuable water bottles to students and staff, and build new water stations so students can continually fill up water bottles throughout the day.
"We know that students just aren't taking the time to drink water," said Superintendent Ruben Reyes.
The biggest concern is most of the elementary schools in the district don't have water fountains inside the cafeteria. Instead, they have a water jug they put out during the day.
School officials and folks at the United Way noticed students were passing up on water and instead were going for sugary drinks.
"A large portion of the issues I see children for during the day when they're having health issues, are often that they're dehydrated," Reyes said.
There are water fountains around the campus, but he says they've found students aren't drinking enough water during the day. Now they're trying to make it more accessible.
"If students have water bottles then they'll drink more, rather than taking sips out of a small cup, or drinking fountain," he said.
The United Way is trying to raise $25,000 to make the water stations happen.
Parents and students CBS13 spoke to seemed on board with the idea.
United Way hopes to raise the money by June 30 and roll out the water stations by the next academic year.
