Useful Resources
No Kid Hungry is committed to ensuring that program sponsors, community partners, and advocates have the resources and tools they need to ensure all kids have the food they need to thrive. We’ve highlighted several current resources below, including resources specifically for Indiana schools and families.
To access our full national resource library, visit our Center for Best Practices website.
School Nutrition
Meal Service Strategies:
These resources are designed to help schools and child nutrition program operators navigate challenges of the school year and ensure that children continue to receive the nutrition they need, including
- Program Options and Waivers
- Engaging the School Community
- Meal Service Operation Resources
- How Community Eligibility (CEP) Can Help
- Afterschool Meal Resources
School Meals Application Outreach Toolkit
This toolkit includes guidance on connecting with families about meal applications, outreach examples from other school districts, and ready-to-use No Kid Hungry resources in both English and Spanish.
This toolkit provides resources on how to reach more students with your breakfast program, including resources on implementing alternative meal models like Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab and Go, and Second Chance Breakfast.
These resources on Farm to School from Indiana Grown for Schools will tell you everything you need to know on the topic and how it can benefit your school.
Food insecure families often rely on multiple sources of food assistance. Free or reduced school meals are critical in providing much-needed nutrition to children, but sometimes this isn’t enough. School hunger relief programs can help feed students and their families, even after the school day ends. Take time to consider whether a program like this is something your administration could implement.
Summer Meals
Summer meals, served at schools and community locations, help to ensure that kids have access to healthy meals year-round.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally-funded, state-administered program. SFSP reimburses program operators who serve free healthy meals and snacks to children and teens in low-income areas.
Summer meals, served at schools and community locations, help to ensure that kids have access to healthy meals year-round.
Enter your address to find free, healthy meals being served by organizations in your community.
You can also find these resources by texting the word FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304. Data & message rates may apply.
Afterschool meal and snack programs allow educational and enrichment programs to provide kids with the nutrition they need at schools and local community organizations like YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs.
CACFP At-Risk
The Child and Adult Food Care Program At Risk Component offers federal funding to Afterschool Programs that serve a meal or snack to children in low-income areas.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides reimbursements for meals served to children and youth participating in afterschool care programs, children residing in emergency shelters, and adults over the age of 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in daycare facilities.
NSLP Snack
Schools can also serve reimbursable snacks to students through the National School Lunch Program.
The National School Lunch Program Afterschool Snack Service is a federally-assisted snack service that provides cash reimbursement to encourage or assist schools in serving snacks to children after the regular school day. The afterschool snack component of the NSLP helps children fully engage in afterschool programming by filling the hunger gap many children face in the afternoon and early evening. Children participating in an approved afterschool care program age 18 and under, and participating children who turn 19 during the school year, are eligible to receive reimbursable snacks through the NSLP.
Recipes
Looking for ways to spice up your menu? Check out the following enticing recipes to help you implement some appealing and delicious ideas into your own menu.
- Indiana Recipe Inspiration
- Child Nutrition Recipe Box
- CACFP Menu Checklist with Best Practices
- Purdue University Recipes
- USDA Choose My Plate Kitchen Recipes
- Food Hero
- ICN Monthly Recipe Ideas
- Calendar of recipes for breakfast and lunch
- Nutrition on the Move – Grab and Go Menu Ideas
- US Dairy Five Easy Lunch Box Recipe Ideas
- StarKist Foodservice K-12 Recipes
- Tyson Food Service Recipe Ideas
- Menu Ideas for Breakfast, Lunch, Summer, Summer, Snack
- Recipe & Food Skills Handouts to Share Alongside Summer Meals
Nutrition Education
Looking for an enrichment program for your after-school meal program? Or are you looking for nutrition education for virtual learning? Check out these options to provide activities for students:
- Fruit and Veggie Yoga
- Tortilla Cooking Workshop for Kids
- Free Nutrition Education Lessons Available for Afterschool Snack or Supper Program
- Free Nutrition Education Lessons Available to incorporate into your virtual learning
- Child Nutrition Education
- Summer Playbook by American Dairy Association Indiana
- Big Green at Home
SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits qualifying households to purchase nutritious food using an electronic card that functions like an ATM card accepted at most grocery stores and farmers’ markets. SNAP can help families weather financial hardship and ensure access to healthy food.
As trusted messengers, schools and community organizations are an important source of information for families. This toolkit includes sample SNAP outreach materials in English and Spanish that can be customized with the local details and specifics that best serve your community.
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana can help you find out if you may be eligible for SNAP benefits.
Pandemic EBT
The Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program helps families afford food during this crisis. It provides an Electronic Benefits Transfer card that can be used at grocery stores – and in some states, to purchase groceries online – that contains the value of the breakfasts and lunches missed due to school closures. If you believe your family qualifies for this benefit and have not received it, please visit the FSSA website to submit an inquiry.
See below for more information and a summary of resources:
- FAQs on SNAP
- SNAP Outreach in Schools Toolkit
- Feeding Indiana’s Hungry Resources
- FAQs On Pandemic-EBT For Children In Schools
- FAQs On Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) For Children In Covered Child Care Facilities
Need more information and have other questions? Visit the Indiana state website to learn more.
Community Compass Resources
Visit Community Compass to:
- Find Free Meal Location
- Find Free Groceries
- See Eligibility
- Find Food-Related Events
Additional Support
- CLICK HERE for the latest Vaccine News and Resources (includes resources in different languages)
- CLICK HERE for Emergency Broadband Benefit Outreach Toolkit
- CLICK HERE for FAQ on the Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program
- CLICK HERE for resources from the Immigrant Welcome Center for immigrant families