When schools shut down in March 2020, districts had to find ways to continue providing meals for children who needed them and to sustain these efforts throughout the summer.

To help districts meet these needs, the Kansas Health Foundation and Sunflower Foundation stepped up to provide $1.2 million in funding. These grants helped 118 districts serve more than 5.6 million meals during the summer months. Greenbush Education Service Center teamed up with the foundations to administer the grants and work directly with district personnel to make sure the funding was distributed.

“(The districts) were able to buy things that were necessary, and to give them an opportunity to keep feeding kids,” said Kelly Peak, director of research and evaluation at Greenbush Education Service Center. “This grant was a godsend.”

Learn more about these efforts by viewing the Health Happenings video above.