SNF Announces 2025 Equipment Grant Recipients

SNF Announces 2025 Equipment Grant Recipients

ARLINGTON, VA – The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF), the charitable arm of the non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA), today announced winners of its 2025 Equipment Grant Program. Grants worth more than $600,000 are being distributed to support local school meal programs’ efforts to add more fresh menu options, increase efficiencies and enhance the cafeteria experience to nourish students’ school days. 

To meet forthcoming limits on added sugar and sodium, school meal programs are working to expand scratch cooking, often requiring investments in new labor-saving equipment or kitchen upgrades. With 91% of school meal program directors reporting challenges with equipment costs, school nutrition professionals nationwide applied for SNF Equipment Grants in the 2024-2025 school year. 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.  

2025 SNF Equipment Grant winners are: 

Paula Bailey, Food Service Director for Watson Chapel School District, AR
Recipient of the AmTab K-12 Food Court Furniture Grant worth up to $200,000

According to Bailey, a new look in the cafeteria will increase meal program participation, which in turn can help ease budget concerns and enable the school nutrition team to have a greater positive impact on student eating habits. “Our surveys list the cafeteria’s atmosphere as one of the main reasons students prefer not to eat lunch there. Upgrades are needed to provide them with a more functional area and a nicer, more inviting space,” said Bailey. 

Diane Russo, Dir. of Nutrition Services for Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, AK
Recipient of the AmTab K-12 Signage, Graphics and Decor Grant worth up to $100,000

“We want to create a welcoming atmosphere that’s perceived as a fun and healthy place to hang out,” said Russo. “Refurbishing the space and the furniture and improving décor will assist in promoting healthy eating simply by making it more attractive. If more students were willing to try our food, they would see that it is not only healthy, but delicious.” 

Ramona Love, Child Nutrition Coordinator for East Central Independent School District, TX
Recipient of the AmTab K-12 Outdoor Furniture Grant worth up to $50,000

“By providing an inviting and enjoyable space to eat, students would be more likely to eat our cafeteria meals, which provide nutritious and delicious menu options. We want to expose our high school students to our locally sourced, homemade menu items,” said Love.  

Darla Koff, Supervisor of Child Nutrition for Caesar Rodney School District, DE
Recipient of the Vulcan Equipment Grant worth up to $50,000

“New equipment will empower our staff to create more diverse and nutritious menu options for students. Expensive equipment repairs and increasing food costs have taken a toll on our budget and new equipment will alleviate repair expenditures while increasing student meal program participation,” said Koff. 

Ashley Teasley, Food Service Director for Fulton Independent School, KY
Recipient of Winston Foodservice Equipment Grant worth up to $50,000

“Replacing broken and outdated equipment is a crucial step toward achieving our goal of providing high-quality, nutritious meals that support student health, well-being and academic success,” said Teasley. “Modern, full-functioning equipment allows kitchen staff to prepare fresher, better-tasting meals, which will in turn encourage students to choose school meals over skipping meals or bringing food from home.” 

Megan Berry, Director of Nutrition Services for Marceline R-V School District, MO
Recipient of Winston Foodservice Equipment Grant worth up to $50,000

“Receiving new equipment will greatly benefit our students and staff and financially impact our district in a positive way,” said Berry. “Hot, healthy and nutritious meals served to our students and staff daily allows our participation to raise in all buildings. Students work better in their classrooms when their nutritional needs are met.” 

Sarah Durst, Director of Child Nutrition for Rio Vista Independent School District, TX
Recipient of the Hobart Equipment Grant worth up to $35,000

“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.  

Lexi Hicks, Director of Food & Nutrition Services for Ojai Unified School District, CA
Recipient of the Food Warming Equipment (FWE) Grant worth up to $25,000

“New equipment will provide safe and efficient solutions for our team and will greatly benefit our students as well. Working with outdated, underperforming kitchen appliances limits what we can prepare for students. We’re doing more speed-scratch cooking and we want to further our scratch efforts,” said Hicks. 

Tacoma Public Schools in WA
Recipient of the Cambro Equipment Grant valued at more than $13,000

The new vending cart will allow the team to diversify menu options for students at Tacoma’s Science and Math Institute (SAMI), which currently lacks a traditional kitchen. The cart will allow the team to offer hot meal choices, improving the overall appeal of school meals and increasing student satisfaction.  

Casey Dickinson, Asst. Dir. Food and Nutrition Services for Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
Recipient of the LTI Equipment Grant valued up to $10,000

“Our main objective for the new equipment is to boost meal participation, ensuring more students have easy access to nutritious meals which can positively impact their focus, academic success and well-being,” said Dickinson. “We would also like to pilot a fresh fruit and vegetable bar and include more local produce, which is possible with an additional kiosk.” 

Dimitra Barrios, Foodservice Director for Ridley School District, PA
Recipient of the Alto-Sham Equipment Grant valued at $9,000

“Staff become frantically worried that sufficient hot meals will not be available for students. Having a new warmer would ease their minds and enable them to consistently stay on schedule without having to execute additional reheating processes,” said Barrios. 

Katie Lopez, Director of Nutrition Services at Aurora Public Schools (APS), CO
Recipient of the Collection Grant to obtain $5,000 worth of Sterno Delivery carriers

“Every APS student deserves access to high-quality, nutritious meals that fuel their bodies and minds and foster lifelong healthy eating habits,” said Lopez. “By securing the right equipment, we can enhance meal quality, boost participation and ensure that no student goes hungry during the school day, setting them up for success each day and in the future.” 

The supporting equipment companies will consult with grant recipients to customize awarded equipment based on their unique needs and opportunities to improve school meal services. Equipment could include ovens, mixers, slicers, food processors, coolers and other refrigeration, holding cabinets, dish machines, package sealing equipment, steamers, insulated tote bags and more. 

“We appreciate the support of industry partners in providing school nutrition programs with new equipment and updates that will have lasting positive impacts on meal programs and the students they serve,” said SNF Chair Becky Domokos-Bays, PhD, RD, SNS 

Additionally, the SNF Equipment Grant Program will award 50 Innoseal Set-up Kits, each containing two Innoseal Professional Sealers and a case of 28-pack multi-color refills.  Recipients are: 

• Amy Rouse, Dir Nutrition Services, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, AK
• Casey Partain, CNP Director, Marshall County School System, AL
• Tina Byrd, Child Nutrition Director, Jasper School District, AR
• Paula Bailey, Food Service Director, Watson Chapel, AR
• Elena Hildreth, Exec Dir Student Nutrition, Yuma Union High School District #70, AZ
• Lexi Hicks, Director of Food & Nutrition Services, Ojai Unified School District, CA
• Darla Koff, Supervisor of Child Nutrition, Caesar Rodney School District, DE
• Stacy Mathis, Director, Lake County Schools, FL
• Nita Floyd, Director, Decatur County School Nutrition Program, GA
• Susan Elsner, Director of School Nutrition, Walton County, GA
• Meredith Potter, Dir of School Nutrition, Houston County School District, GA
• Anne Brock, Director of School Nutrition, West Ada School District, ID
• Holly Lundquist, Director, Basin School District, ID
• Teresa Bettleyon, Child Nutrition Director, Marsing School District, ID
• Jamie Carollo, Director of Food & Nutrition, Harlem School District #122, IL
• Jessica DeFossett, Food Service Director, Franklin County School Corporation, IN
• Tace Clarke, Food Service Director, Gilbert Community School District, IA
• Ashley Teasley, Food Service Director, Fulton Independent School, KY
• Cheyenne Barsotti, Food Service Director, Boyle County Schools, KY
• Sarah Beth Legg, Director, Morgan County Board of Education, KY
• Lucretia Hertzock, Director of Child Nutrition, St. Landry Parish School Board, LA
• Allison Perkins, School Nutrition Director, Community Regional Charter School, ME
• Tina Fabian, School Nutrition Director, RSU #3, ME
• Brant Russell, Food Service Director, Jackson Public Schools, MI
• Gabrielle Trader, Food Nutrition Director Superior, Central Schools, MI
• Janine Teske, Ops Specialist, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley School District #2888, MN
• Mary Beth Sheffield, Child Nutrition Director, Tishomingo County School District, MS
• Jennifer Marquess, Director of Nutritional Services, Marshall Public Schools, MO
• Kristi Merritt, Food Service Director, Diamond R-IV School District, MO
• Melissa Albright, Director of Child Nutrition, Carteret County Schools, NC
• Kaitlyn Lansman, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, Gretna Public Schools, NE
• Connie Babino, Food Service Director, Afton Central School, NY
• Karen Atherton, Food Service Director Hudson School District, NH
• Jason Whipple, Dir of Food Services, Cleveland Hill Union Free School District, NY
• Tina Kindelberger, Food Service Director, Sandy Valley School, OH
• Krista Neal, Nutrition Services Director, Stillwater Public Schools, OK
• Meghan Mehler, Food Service Coordinator, Fairview School District, PA
• Dimitra Barrios, FSD, Ridley School District, PA
• Brian Rathgeb, Director of Food Services, Columbia Borough School District, PA
• Melissa Schad, Food Service Director, Avonworth, PA
• Kristan Delle, Director of Food Services, Upper Dublin School District, PA
• Shannon Almand, Director, Quitman ISD, TX
• Jeff Miley, Director of Food Services, Ferris ISD, TX
• Paul Guymon, Child Nutrition Manager, Logan City School District, UT
• Alayna Ewell, Director, Emery School District, UT
• Leeah Parks, Director of Child Nutrition Programs, Bristol Public Schools, VA
• Lisa Landrum, Director of Nutrition Services, Goochland County Public Schools, VA
• Christopher McBurney, Nutrition Supervisor, Middlesex County Public Schools, VA
• Paul Harris, Director of Nutrition Services, Tacoma Public Schools, WA
• Jennifer Schaaf, Food Service Director, Dodgeville School District, WI 

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.