Join No Kid Hungry as we continue to highlight solutions, challenges and lingering questions around Covid-19 response and back-to-school. For this session of our back-to-school series, we featured programming and lessons learned from Tribal communities. School food service and community leaders shared how they have navigated these challenging times and how they are implementing meal service for students during COVID-19. Our speakers highlighted unique benefits and challenges that tribal communities face from a cultural and governmental perspective.

Join No Kid Hungry as we continue to highlight solutions, challenges and lingering questions around Covid-19 response and back-to-school. For this installment of our back-to-school series, we featured programming and lessons learned from rural communities. School food service leaders shared how they have navigated these challenging times and implemented back-to-school meal service. We also featured audience questions and dedicated time for discussion centered on program implementation and adoption of program flexibilities provided by recent waivers

This webinar focused on out-of-school time providers and the valuable support they provide to schools and communities. We heard from a YMCA in Michigan, a Boys & Girls Club in Georgia, and a non-profit sponsor in Minnesota who illustrated how they partner with and support schools to provide healthy meals to their communities without duplicating efforts. We also heard about how the recently extended summer meals waivers enhance out-of-school time providers’ work and opportunities to feed their communities this fall.

We’ll hear from two districts—Brandon Valley School District (South Dakota) and Vaughn Next Century Learning Center (California)— about their plans for feeding kids during the 2020-2021 school year.

In this webinar, we hear from Dallas ISD (Texas) and Burke County Public Schools (Georgia)— about their plans for feeding kids during the 2020-2021 school year.

This was the first in a series of back-to-school webinars focused on feeding kids during the 2020-2021 school year, as we continue to navigate the coronavirus pandemic. This webinar focused on understanding the nationwide waivers— the waivers available, the waivers not available, possible meal service models, and limitations and challenges. We also explored options for financial recovery including FEMA Public Assistance Grants, CARES Act funds and the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Strategic grouping can maximize federal reimbursement for districts operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). But with so many potential combinations, it can be difficult to know which grouping scenario is the best. Meals Count can help! Meals Count is a free interactive, customizable tool to help districts optimize their CEP groupings, maximize school meal funding, and fight childhood hunger.

Meals Count is a collaboration between Open San Diego, California Food Policy Advocates, and San Diego Hunger Coalition.

Over the past several months, school meals have been a lifeline to students and families; both to those who have depended on school meals in the past and to others who are now finding themselves in need amidst growing unemployment. As districts think through what the reopening of schools will look like, school meals must remain a service kids and families can count on.

We know that childhood hunger does not exist in a vacuum - kids who struggle with hunger live in households that are struggling, too. This webinar covers the efforts of schools and community partners in Charlotte, NC who are working together to meet the needs of children and their families, including families with immigration status and hard-to-reach communities. To frame the discussion, United Way shares information about their national 211 hotline, a critical support to families in need.

Planning menus for non-congregate meal service can be a challenge, especially as the weather turns warmer. Watch this webinar to learn about planning and procuring healthy, nutritious meals for kids in your community - and about keeping those meals safe on hotter days. You'll hear from Jen McNeil from LunchAssist, Aleshia Hall-Campbell from the Institute on Child Nutrition, and Miguel Villareal from San Ramon Valley Unified School District.