WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 10, 2018) – The NEA Foundation is partnering with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign to launch a new fellowship to provide educators from across the country with resources to fight childhood hunger. In the U.S., nearly 13 million children, or one in six, are living in food insecure homes. According to a study from Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, American educators are often on the front lines of hunger, spending an average of $300 per year on snacks for their students.
The Fellowship is open to all National Education Association members who are kindergarten through 12th grade classroom teachers, and education support professionals. Selected Fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend and up to $3,000 from No Kid Hungry for their school site to purchase equipment, like coolers and/or hotboxes, grab n’ go kiosks, trashcans, recycling bins, and cleaning supplies, needed to serve breakfast at school. Applications are due October 8, 2018 and can be found here.
“Students can’t learn when they’re hungry, and for some, school breakfast and lunch might be the only meals they eat,” says Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. “Through this Fellowship, more educators will receive resources and training to ensure that their students receive breakfast at school, beginning each day ready to learn.”
The Fellowship, conceived by No Kid Hungry, helps educators initiate a breakfast after the bell program, which replaces the traditional cafeteria breakfast by offering it as part of the school day. Breakfast after the bell programs have dramatically increased participation in the federally funded School Breakfast Program. Studies show that eating breakfast at school positively affects students’ concentration, alertness, test scores, attendance, and behavior.
Food insecure children are vulnerable to poor health, stunted development, and are at a higher risk for behavioral issues and social difficulties. Research has shown that school breakfast plays a significant role in a child’s ability to concentrate and learn. Yet, less than half of all children who qualify for a free or reduced breakfast receive it.
“Educators are crucial to our success in achieving No Kid Hungry, and our partnership with the NEA Foundation will help us reach and engage more educators with this important program,” says Tom Nelson, President & CEO of Share Our Strength. “We hope to fight childhood hunger by building the capacity of more educators to advocate for increasing access to school breakfast in their schools, districts, states, and beyond.”
Find more information about the Fellowship on the NEA Foundation and No Kid Hungry websites.
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About the NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation is a public charity founded by educators for educators to improve public education for all students. Since our beginning in 1969, the Foundation has served as a laboratory of learning, offering funding and other resources to public school educators, their schools, and districts to solve complex teaching and learning challenges. We believe that when educators unleash their own power, ideas, and voices, communities, schools, and students all benefit. Visit neafoundation.org for more information. Find us on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to our blog.
No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger through effective programs that provide kids with the food they need. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization working to end hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.
