[Contact: Claire Mansfield at 804.692.2545 or cmansfield@strength.org]
RICHMOND, VA – No Kid Hungry Virginia is investing $57,400 to launch alternative breakfast programs in 15 schools across the state. The programs – known nationwide as Breakfast After the Bell – increase access to school breakfast by making it a part of the school day, providing breakfast in a way that is more convenient and accessible to students, resulting in increased student participation.
The school breakfast program can ensure that kids get the morning nutrition they need, but too often, it can be challenging for kids to access this critical meal. Some examples of alternative breakfast service models include: Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC), Grab and Go Breakfast, and Second Chance Breakfast.
More than 300,000 children in Virginia live in families that struggle with hunger. Research shows that hunger has long-term ramifications on children, including lower test scores, weaker attendance rates and a higher risk of hospitalizations and chronic diseases. No Kid Hungry Virginia and its partners focus on Breakfast After the Bell as a critical way to end childhood hunger in Virginia.
The following schools received No Kid Hungry Virginia breakfast grants:
- Brunswick High School in Brunswick County – $5,000
- Caroline Middle in Caroline County – $4,920
- Churchland High in the City of Portsmouth – $5,000
- Clarke County High in Clarke County – $5,000
- Courtland High in Spotsylvania County – $3,675
- Dinwiddie High in Dinwiddie County – $5,000
- Edward W. Wyatt Middle in Greensville County – $3,500
- Fluvanna County High in Fluvanna County – $2,775
- Kentuck Elementary in Pittsylvania County – $1,956
- Lebanon Middle in Russell County – $5,000
- Randolph Elementary in Goochland County – $2,500
- Rappahannock High in Richmond County – $4,400
- Riverview Elementary and Middle in Buchanan County – $5,000
- Spotsylvania Middle in Spotsylvania County – $3,675
- Thornburg Middle in Spotsylvania County – $3,675
Nearly 1,000 schools in Virginia have Breakfast After the Bell programs. Research indicates that eating breakfast at school helps children improve classroom performance, have better attendance and promotes healthy habits.
“We know one of the most effective ways to boost school breakfast participation is to serve it after the bell and make it a part of the school day,” said Claire Mansfield, No Kid Hungry Virginia state director. “We’re excited that more schools across Virginia will be implementing Breakfast After the Bell programs this school year. No Kid Hungry Virginia is here to help schools and districts launch and strengthen breakfast programs so that students have the nutrition they need to succeed in the classroom.”
The grants will help schools purchase items such as “Grab and Go” kiosks where students can easily pick up breakfast in the morning, along with other supplies to assist cafeteria staff with launching alternative Breakfast After the Bell models aimed at bringing breakfast out of the cafeteria to increase student access and participation.
No Kid Hungry Virginia also awarded Southampton County Public Schools with a $5,000 grant to expand an Afterschool Meals Program to Southampton Middle School. The division is using the grant to fund a refrigeration unit and to support marketing materials that build excitement and awareness about the program.
Visit state.nokidhungry.org/va for more information about No Kid Hungry Virginia’s work and Breakfast After the Bell programs.
# # #
About Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign
No child should go hungry in America, but 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. Using proven, practical solutions, No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger today by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. When we all work together, we can make sure kids get the healthy food they need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.