The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) has named Missy Elliott, Food Service Director for Armada Area Schools in MI, the recipient of the Cambro Equipment Grant to obtain specialty cooler and freezer shelving and food storage products valued at more than $10,000. The grant is among 2026 SNF Equipment Grants available to help school meal programs overcome staffing, budget or operational challenges. The additional funding supports programs working to expand fresh and scratch-made menu options, increase efficiencies and enhance the cafeteria experience to nourish students’ school days.
With Michigan’s largest elementary enrollment, Orville C. Krause Elementary School has 860 students and serves about 600 lunches and nearly 400 breakfasts each school day from one kitchen. Staff efforts are hampered by inefficient, unadjustable shelving units in the freezer and walk-in cooler.
The Cambro grant enables the Krause staff to make better use of space and expand their ability to properly store fresh meats and produce. Current limitations force the program to utilize shelf stable foods and canned options due to the lack of freezer and cooler storage. Adjustable shelving and enhanced storage will also support the day-to-day operations and safety of staff, who currently stack products high, lift and move boxes and utilize carts in crowded spaces to access weekly stock.
“The new shelving will transform our cooler and freezer space to help us operate more efficiently and improve the overall quality of our meals to better serve our students,” said Missy Elliott, Food Service Director for Armada Area Schools.
In a recent School Nutrition Association survey of school meal program directors, 94% of respondents reported a need for more equipment and infrastructure to expand scratch preparation and reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods.
“With so many students being served each day at Krause Elementary, it’s an honor to provide Elliott and her hardworking team with this grant to support efficiency, staff safety and improved quality of meals,” said SNF Chair, Gay Anderson, SNS.
As the recipient of the Cambro Equipment Grant, Armada Area Schools will work with company representatives to have Cambro Camshelving and food storage products delivered for the upcoming school year.
In addition, Armada Area Schools was also awarded one of 50 Innoseal Set-up Kits, including two Innoseal Professional Sealers and a case of 28-pack multi-color refills. The SNF Innoseal Equipment Grant supports schools serving produce with an efficient bag sealing machine that keeps fruits and vegetables fresh, crisp and healthy.
To view the grant winner’s video submission, visit: https://vimeo.com/1203603743
About School Nutrition Foundation:
The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is the charitable arm of the School Nutrition Association (SNA). SNF supports school nutrition professionals by offering grants and scholarships, providing free training opportunities and identifying research, trends and innovations. The 2026 SNF Equipment Grants are made possible by the generous contributions of Alto-Shaam, AmTab, Cambro Manufacturing, Food Warming Equipment Company (FWE), Fork Farms, Hobart (ITW Food Equipment Group LLC Brand), Innoseal, LTI, Inc., Vulcan (ITW Food Equipment Group LLC brand), and Winston Foodservice.
About School Nutrition Association:
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. For more information on school meals, visit www.SchoolNutrition.org/SchoolMeals.
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