March 2019 Fresh Focus

Thank You for Celebrating National School Breakfast Week!

Every year during the first week of March, schools and districts around the country join together to celebrate school breakfast. This year, Project Bread and Blue Cross Blue Shield celebrated Amherst-Pelham Regional School District and their new pilot program serving Breakfast in the Classroom at all elementary schools. Project Bread’s Chefs in Schools provided samples of healthy breakfast foods and Amherst Town Council President Lynn Griesemer, Councilor-At-Large Mandi Jo Hanneke, District 1 Councilor Cathy Shoen, and Representative Mindy Domb served breakfast to students at Fort River Elementary School. Members of Amherst Town Council and the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District (APRSD) school committee were also in attendance.

National School Breakfast Week at Fort River Elementary.

Current Grant Opportunities

Summer Eats Grant

For over ten years, Project Bread has offered grants to promote new sites and strategies to reach more kids and teens in Summer Eats programs. Our goal is to ensure that all children in Massachusetts remain nourished throughout the summer months, when school meals are not available. For more information on how to apply, head to meals4kids.org/SummerEatsGrants - applications are due by March 31, 2019. This year, funding will be prioritized for sponsors utilizing grants for the following activities, however, all grant applications will be considered:

  • Farm to Summer Eats activities
  • Expanded promotion and outreach activities
  • Meal sites at libraries, low-income housing properties, farmers markets and other non- traditional locations
  • Community-led engagement efforts for open sites

Breakfast After the Bell Implementation Grant

Offering Breakfast After the Bell is an effective way to reduce barriers or stigma associated with traditional cafeteria breakfast, increase breakfast access to all students, and achieve higher participation rates. The purpose of the Breakfast After the Bell Implementation grant is to provide support and financial assistance to schools where 60% or more of the student population are eligible for free and reduced-price meals to implement a Breakfast After the Bell model by the end of the 2018-2019 school year. To download the grant application, click here.

2019 Summer Eats Conference: Recap

Thank you to all of our attendees for a great 2019 Summer Eats Conference! Over 125 site staff, sponsor staff, and community partners joined us at the College of the Holy Cross on January 24th for a day full of learning, collaborating, and sharing ideas to improve Summer Eats. Attendees heard from CNOP staff, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, New England Dairy & Food Council, and community partners in workshops addressing farm to summer initiatives, outreach and promotion strategies, engagement with elected officials, mobile meals best practices, and more. For a complete list of presentations, notes, and information from the day, head over to our website!

2019 Summer Eats Conference.

Recipe of the Month

Check out this recipe used by Project Bread’s Chefs in Schools! The combination of the Greek yogurt dressing and seeds add a good dose of protein, which is an important energy source. Plus, the strawberries, fresh orange juice and cranberries add a serious antioxidant, Vitamin C, and immune system boost, just in time for the change of seasons.