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COVID-19 School Meal Programs Benefit from SNF Grants

2020-05-05

SNF campaign to expand through new partnerships

ARLINGTON, VA – The non-profit School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) has awarded the first in a series of grants to support emergency feeding operations serving needy students during COVID-19 school closures. The initial grants, $1,500 each, awarded to six school districts, will help meet urgent needs for portable refrigerator units, cooler bags and packaging materials for grab and go meals. Thanks to support pledged by GENYOUth and National Dairy Council (NDC), SNF’s “Help Feed School Kids Now!” fundraising campaign will build on this success and reach more schools supporting children and families facing food insecurity due to COVID-19.

Schools have encountered numerous challenges transitioning from typical cafeteria service to COVID-19 grab-and-go meal pick-up and delivery models. School meal programs operate on extremely tight budgets, funded by cafeteria sales and reimbursements for meals served. With revenue declines due to school closures, many programs lack critical funds to purchase equipment and supplies or cover transportation, staffing and other costs associated with COVID-19 feeding programs.

Thanks to generous donations to the “Help Feed School Kids Now!” fundraising campaign, SNF has stepped in to help address the following emergency school feeding needs:

  • Temperature-controlled transport carts and insulated bags in Wichita Falls ISD, TX
  • Portable refrigerator units in South Bend Community Schools, IN
  • Equipment needs for Beech Grove City Schools, IN
  • Food and packaging material costs in Marlboro School District, NJ
  • Packaging for meals served at Bluffview Montessori School #4001, MN
  • Meal packaging and transportation costs at Riverway Learning Community in MN

As SNF continues to receive grant applications, a new partnership with GENYOUth and NDC, including a $30,000 donation to the campaign, will help raise visibility and awareness of the need to support our nation’s schools in providing meals to the growing number of youth and families facing food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic and bring more critical support to schools.

“School nutrition professionals are working tirelessly on the frontlines to ensure our students continue to receive nutritious meals, despite school closures,” said SNF Board Chair Julia Bauscher, SNS, who also serves as Director of School and Community Nutrition Services at Jefferson County Public Schools, KY. “Schools desperately need support as they scramble to find new ways to safely serve students during this pandemic. SNF and our generous donors have stepped up to meet critical equipment and supply needs to help and are proud to support school nutrition professionals as they nourish America’s children.”

About School Nutrition Foundation

The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is an independent 501(c) (3) and the charitable arm of the non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA). Since 1964, SNF has supported school nutrition professionals nationwide through scholarships, research and professional development programs.

About GENYOUth

GENYOUth is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that creates healthier school communities.  We convene a network of private and public partners, including Fortune 100 companies and foundations, to raise funds for youth wellness initiatives that give youth the inspiration, motivation and programs to be healthy high-achieving students. GENYOUth’s flagship program, Fuel Up to Play 60, enrolls over 73,000 U.S. schools, reaching over 38 million students. Our school nutrition grants increase access to healthy school meals among food insecure students. NFL FLAG-In-School is GENYOUth’s fastest growing program with over 20,000+ school communities reaching over 11 million students while AdVenture Capital brings out the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of students with the support of corporate mentors to solve real world problems. For more information about GENYOUth, visit www.genyouthnow.org

About National Dairy Council

National Dairy Council (NDC) is the non-profit organization dedicated to bringing to life the dairy community’s shared vision of a healthy, happy, sustainable world – with science as the foundation. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. NDC has taken a leadership role in promoting child health and wellness through programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by NDC and the National Football League (NFL), Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. For more information, visit www.USDairy.com

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