A big shout out to the 109 schools and districts in #Massachusetts that achieved “school breakfast excellence” by ensuring that at least 80% of their students start their day off with a healthy breakfast.
We’re giving each a $500 grant to celebrate their accomplishment—and we’re re-launching our grants initiative to help other schools set up similar “After the Bell” breakfast programs.
Learn more in our 2024 Breakfast Report Card, State of School Breakfast in Massachusetts with the link in our bio.
#BreakfastAfterTheBell #SchoolMeals #AfterTheBellBreakfast
All MA students are entitled to free school breakfast, but nearly half of kids in our high-poverty schools aren’t getting it. Let’s fix that: Implement after-the-bell breakfast programs so all children get a nutritious meal, in the classroom and after the start of the school day. Learn more in our newest report.
Nearly half of at-risk kids aren’t getting the nutritious school breakfast they need—and are entitled to! We could feed 150,000 more low-income children—and get an additional $67 million in federal funds—by expanding After the Bell breakfast programs. Learn more in our latest report.
Eos just released our 2023/24 school breakfast report card, and the findings are grim: 48%f of kids in high-poverty schools aren’t getting the free breakfast they’re entitled to. There’s an easy fix! More schools must offer After the Bell breakfast programs and serve a nutritious meal in the classroom after the start of the school day. Learn more in our latest report.
Providing breakfast, in the classroom and after the bell, is the best way for the state’s at-risk kids to get the nutrition they need. To that end, we’re giving $10,000 launch grants to schools rolling out After the Bell breakfast this year. And to honor those who are doing it right, we’re distributing more than $100,000 in Healthy Start Grants to 109 schools and districts that serve breakfast to 80% of their students or more.
Breakfast After the Bell is the best way to ensure the state’s low-income children are getting the nourishment they need. Our new report card looks at which schools are succeeding with their breakfast programs—and which need to work harder.
Check it out with the link in our bio.
#foodinsecurity
#childhoodhunger
#breakfastafterthebell
#schoolbreakfast
A new push is underway to keep meals served at Massachusetts public schools free permanently.
"You can have the best teacher in the world, a really great textbook, an awesome desk, a pencil that works....if they are hungry they are not learning," said Erin McAleer, president and CEO of @ProjectBread
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry.
More than 100,000 Massachusetts children are food insecure and are facing the threat of hunger daily, according to Feeding America. The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic aggravate these numbers, but there are now some remedies within the walls of school cafeterias with the help of volunteer and nonprofit organizations.
Free meal programs in schools and other food delivery initiatives have played a huge role in the battle to end childhood hunger in the state, offering children healthy meal options and opportunities that they may not receive at home.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
If you’ve already hung up your running shoes for the season, it’s time to dust them off and get outside for some fresh air and exercise.
This February, stay healthy and connected to the community and join the Heart of Hunger Challenge https://buff.ly/3IhLccX
Walk, jog, or run outdoors through the month of February and achieve your New Year’s resolutions to get fit and stay healthy this winter. Challenge yourself to run or walk at least one-mile outdoors every day in February and 100% of your registration fee will support one of the United Way’s food pantries and hot meal programs for families and individuals who are struggling to eat.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
Cape Cod Community College has had a food pantry on its West Barnstable campus for a decade in a partnership with Harwich-based The Family Pantry of Cape Cod and the Cape Cod Foundation.
The pantry is open to anyone with a 4Cs college ID — students or staff — with students able to receive a bag of shelf-stable groceries, as well as personal care products, each week.
The pantry has had 371 visits so far this year, up 299% over the last calendar year.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
Most food-insecure college students aren’t aware of or don’t have access to aid like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Only 20% of eligible Massachusetts college students use SNAP benefits to buy food.
The Massachusetts Hunger Free Campus Coalition is working to raise that percentage and address the glaring issue of food insecurity on college campuses.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
Beverly Bootstraps is looking to fight hunger on the North Shore in a new way that allows those in need to access food in a more convenient and discreet manner.
The community nonprofit has purchased and installed several Automated Refrigerated Food Lockers around Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Manchester and Wenham that allow residents to place an order online and then pick it up when it is easiest for them.
"I'm most excited by the 24/7 access in this model," Beverly Bootstraps Executive Director Sue Gabriel said. "People need to work, care for children, elderly parents, or others in their families, making it hard to find time to come to the food pantry to get groceries.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
https://buff.ly/3V0s5a4
The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife this fall has launched a program that allows hunters to donate wild game meat, specifically venison, to other Massachusetts residents in need.
Through the Hunters Share the Harvest program, MassWildlife said hunters can donate whole deer, which will be processed into ground venison.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
1 in 3 public university students in Massachusetts is food insecure, with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students disproportionately affected. And price hikes from inflation, as well as the heavy burden of student loans, certainly don't help.
But what many students don't know is that there is help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Only 20% of food-insecure students utilize SNAP benefits to help bring food to their plate.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
In Massachusetts, 1 in 6 households and 1 in 5 families with children — many of whom are Latino, African-American and Asian, are facing food insecurity.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
On Monday, Christopher “Monte” Belmonte, broadcaster for The River, WRSI 93.9, pointed his shopping cart north for the 13th time and began leading a two-day, 43-mile walk from Springfield to Deerfield.
The intention of the walk, dubbed Monte’s March, is to raise money and support the mission of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, which is to support the food pantries and meal sites in all four counties in Western Massachusetts.
#childhunger #foodinsecurity #massachusetts #schoolmeals #hunger #hungerrelief #hungerfornone #hungerheroes #foodsecurity #foodbank #foodpantry
