The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) has awarded Sarah Durst, Director of Child Nutrition for Rio Vista Independent School District in Texas, the Hobart Equipment Grant worth up to $35,000 in specialty school foodservice equipment. The grant is among 2025 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.
Durst’s nutrition program faces significant challenges due to outdated equipment, with most pieces across their three campuses being more than 30 years old. Breakdowns and inefficient equipment often lead to service delays and menu limitations. Without reliable equipment, Durst’s staff is forced to modify recipes and rely on pre-packaged or heat-and-serve foods instead of preparing more fresh and scratch-made meals they plan for. The financial burden of maintaining old equipment diverts funds from important elements of the program such as improving food quality and staff training. Emergency repairs and downtime increase operational costs and make it difficult to allocate resources efficiently.
“With updated ovens, steamers and refrigeration units, we could expand our menu offerings, increase the use of whole foods, and better support farm-to-school initiatives by purchasing fresh produce from local farmers. These improvements would ensure that students receive healthier, high-quality meals that support their physical and academic well-being,” said Durst.
Durst adds that a new food processor, mixer, salad dryer and automatic slicer will allow nutrition staff to expand their menu. Updated equipment will streamline service, reduce wait times, and improve overall meal appeal. Durst hopes better resources could also open the door for program expansion beyond the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and
School Breakfast Program (NSBP) to offer after-school meal programs, summer feeding initiatives, or grab-and-go options for students with tight schedules.
“We are happy to provide the Rio Vista Independent School District with funding for much-needed equipment upgrades,” said SNF Chair, Becky Domokos-Bays, PhD, RD, SNS. “Upgrading equipment is a long-term investment in students and staff and has a positive impact on student participation in meal programs.”
As the recipient of the Hobart Equipment Grant, Rio Vista Independent School District will receive up to $35,000 worth of Hobart Food Preparation equipment. They will work with a Hobart representative to determine what items best meet the school district’s specific needs.
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 2025 SNF Equipment Grants are made possible by the generous contributions of Alto-Shaam, AmTab, Cambro Manufacturing, Food Warming Equipment Company (FWE), Hobart (ITW Food Equipment Group LLC Brand), Innoseal, LTI, Inc., Sterno Delivery, 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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