It’s not every month that the Federal Way Mirror nominates an animal as its Citizen of the Month, but this month, one particular animal—or amphibian, rather—was recognized for making an extraordinary impact in the community.

Meet FRED: he is a bright green tree frog on a mission to bring food, fitness, learning and fun to children newborn to 18 in the Federal Way Public Schools.

In the summer of 2013, three medium-sized school buses that were destined for the scrap yard because of their high mileage were given a new lease on life. The three buses were refurbished with refrigerators and hot carts on board, each painted bright green, and sent out to several apartment communities in Federal Way to serve hot lunches to low-income students. Thus, FRED was born.

Something also that FRED stands for is Fun, Read, Eat and Dream.

According to Matias Garcia, a FRED bus lead for Federal Way Public Schools, FRED not only feeds hungry children but FRED also provides fun, physical activities, educational board games and computer games, and books to read while eating lunch or to bring home and keep. Learning specialists are on site to engage students in fun, educational games.

“We’ve had several feeding projects within the district,” Garcia said. “A lot of people have trouble getting transportation (to the meal sites). We have high need communities. This was a way to bring the meals to the people.”

Garcia said laptops on board the buses are borrowed from the school district.

“Sponsors have donated money to buy laptop games and board games,” Garcia said. “We also have a craft project for kids to do. For the past two years, we have also had (physical education) teachers from the district to have a P.E. day with all the kids.”

This past summer the three bright green FRED buses visited a total of six apartment communities over a period of six weeks, four days a week, between June 22 and July 30.

Deb Stenberg, a spokeswoman for Federal Way Public Schools, said FRED served more than 2,900 meals during that time to students in Federal Way, parts of Auburn, Kent and unincorporated King County.

Sponsors of the program this past summer were United Way of King County, the City of Federal Way, the Department of Agriculture, and the King County Library System.

Contributors to FRED in its first year comprised the following: City of Federal Way, United Way of King County, a state-funded Meals for Kids grant, the Franciscan Foundation for Prevention of Youth Violence, Federal Way Rotary, Half-Price Books, South King County Firefighters Foundation, Federal Way Lions, and BECU. Numerous individuals donated books and small cash donations. FRED also thanks many volunteers who supported the program by reading to children.

Garcia said he witnesses firsthand the impact FRED makes on students.

“I’ve seen a lot of kids getting interested in school a little more,” Garcia said. “Kids are having lots of fun. They’re learning. Kids are very happy. We have kids come back consistently. Probably around 60 percent of students (served) come every single day.”

Not bad for a bright green tree frog.