Project Bread Logo
Search Search Icon

Feeding Kids

Solving childhood hunger in Massachusetts

Scroll Down Arrows

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 feeding kids in schools and over summer break. Our goal: permanently break down any barrier to children receiving daily nutrition.

Impact Stat Background

Leading the campaign

Universal School Meals

over 80,000 more kids are eating school lunch

Red Stars Line

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 2022 gave 239,106 children access to school breakfast.

Starts Line

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 the now permanent summer waivers. Now kids will have access to free to-go meals and in more areas around the state! In July 2022, 192 meal providers served over 2 million meals across almost 1,500 sites.

A young boy and girl lean up against a fence at a farmers market enjoy their Summer Eats meal Starts Line

IMPROVING MEAL QUALITY IN CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

Focusing on nutrition

To fuel student success through school nutrition, we are an active, year-round, and hands-on partner to school districts. Working in tandem, we improve the quality of meals provided to children through the National School Lunch & Breakfast Program and Summer Eats.

Our team conducted trainings and classes for 545 school nutrition staff across 10 districts in school year 2021-22, awarding a total of 1,108 professional development hours to participants.

School nutrition worked holding tray of food and posing Starts Line
Project Bread Breakfast Placemat with trays of school meals

“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

Stats & Research

Get the Facts

The latest trends in childhood hunger & food insecurity in MA

Right Arrow Right Arrow