Feeding Kids
Solving childhood hunger in Massachusetts
Overview
Childhood hunger should never be on the table
At Project Bread, we know that to end hunger for everyone, we need to start with feeding our kids. Project Bread is relentless in our fight against childhood food insecurity. Through a mix of advocacy and program work, we focus on connecting kids and teens to reliable sources of food. Our core programs that support School Meals and Summer Eats all share the same mission: permanently breaking down any barrier to feeding kids in our community.
Leading the campaign
Universal School Meals
an est. 50,000 more kids would eat school meals
School Meals
Inspiring kids to stay full & eat at school
Well-fed kids have better focus, better health, and better academic outcomes. Through our work with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, we help schools with their breakfast programs, and encourage student participation in school meals.
In collaboration with schools, our work in 2020 gave 150,000 more children access to school breakfast.
Summer Eats
School’s out, free meals are in
When the school year ends, the child nutrition safety net of school breakfast and lunch ends too. Summer Eats, run in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, helps fill this gap by continuing to provide free meals to all kids and teens, 18 and under, across the state.
Project Bread was instrumental in securing USDA waivers for free to-go meals to continue for all kids during year two of the pandemic, and helped 140 summer meal providers use them to feed more kids.
IMPROVING MEAL QUALITY IN CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
Focusing on nutrition
We are an active partner to school districts and school meal providers year-round to fuel student success through school nutrition with healthy and creative meals.
Through the pandemic, the support of our donors made it possible to successfully adapt our services for meal providers to an online format. In 2021, 460 school nutrition professionals participated in our online courses from 90 school districts and community organizations.
“Working with Project Bread has really helped elevate our food service program. After our partnership ends, they’ll leave our school with successful recipes and the pride of being able to cook wonderful food for our children.”
April Liles, Project Bread Community Nutrition Services Partner, Food Service Director, Waltham Public Schools