{"id":13655,"date":"2025-08-27T13:57:51","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T13:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/virginia\/?p=13655"},"modified":"2025-09-15T19:19:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T19:19:34","slug":"from-summer-to-school-ensuring-year-round-access-to-meals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/virginia\/2025\/08\/27\/from-summer-to-school-ensuring-year-round-access-to-meals\/","title":{"rendered":"From Summer to School: Ensuring Year-Round Access to Meals"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As summer ends and a new school year begins, we celebrate the incredible efforts of summer meal providers and food access advocates who made sure kids had the food they need to grow and thrive. This summer, meal providers served millions of meals to children across Virginia \u2013 a powerful reminder of what\u2019s possible when communities come together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, as the school year gets underway here in Virginia, school meal programs carry that work forward. By ensuring students have access to healthy meals every day, schools help children stay nourished, focused, and ready to learn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Breakfast After the Bell<\/b><\/p>\n

Breakfast is one of the most important tools for student success. Research shows that students who eat breakfast at school perform better on tests, show improved behavior and health, and <\/span>attend school more regularly<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, not every child can get to school early enough to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. That\u2019s why strategies like <\/span>Breakfast After the Bell<\/span><\/a> are so powerful. By making breakfast part of the school day, more students are able to participate. Schools across Virginia use a variety of approaches, including:<\/span><\/p>\n