NASHUA – National feeding programs project that 42 million people, including 13 million children, may experience food insecurity in 2021. It’s why New Hampshire dairy farmers, through New England Dairy, have awarded $5,156 in grants to New Hampshire schools. This round of funding is helping schools upgrade equipment to offer new and unique foods that include nutritious milk and other dairy items on the menus for years to come. These grants aid school nutrition staff in overcoming the challenges they face to feed students.

More than 30 million students rely on school meals for a significant portion of their daily nutrition. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed children’s food insecurity to its highest levels in decades. But school nutrition staffers across New England are fighting back.

Each Nashua High School location has been awarded grants ranging from $2,000 to nearly $3,000. Many schools chose to begin offering smoothies made with milk, yogurt, fruit, and sometimes greens, as smoothies are a great portable menu option that can be eaten in the cafeteria, classroom, or on the go.

Dahlia Daigle, Nashua School District Food Service Director, explained, “As more of our students are now returning to our schools in person, the grab and go carts provided by New England Dairy’s Dairy on the Go grant will help us create easy pickup points in our two high schools, enabling students to grab a quick breakfast and lunch as they pass through the school lobby on their way into or out of our buildings, and allowing us to give them easy access to the nutritional building blocks they need for a successful school day.”

New Hampshire Schools Awarded ‘Dairy on the Go’ Grants:

Nashua High School North, Nashua, NH – $2,938

Nashua High School South, Nashua, NH – $2,218

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 124,000 US schools closed in-classroom learning, yet 95 percent engaged in emergency assistance to continue providing meals to students outside of school – and these efforts continue in 2021. One in six kids lived in food insecurity leading into the pandemic. Now, that statistic is closer to one in four. As schools re-engage with students in the classroom, or through hybrid-models, nutrition has and will remain a focal point for student success.

New England Dairy and New Hampshire dairy farm families have been supporting local schools for more than a century. Dairy farms are the heartbeat of many communities throughout New England, creating jobs, investing in the local economy, and supporting childhood health and education. Milk and other dairy foods can play an important role in overall health and wellness. Eating three daily servings of dairy foods like milk, cheese, or yogurt can help close key nutrient gaps and contribute to nutrient-rich, healthy eating patterns. Milk provides a unique package of nine essential nutrients including calcium, potassium and Vitamin D – a nutritional powerhouse for families and students.

Having reliable access to school food has been a major boon for families who rely on school meals to maintain their household budgets – a testament to the hard work of school nutrition and feeding program staff members.

School meals have been free to all students in most schools during the 2020-2021 school year. The efforts of local school nutrition staffers are critical in keeping students and families fed during these uncertain times. You can help by having your child eat school meals whether they are in the building or learning from home. More participation means more important funding.

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