The U.S. Apple Association has donated $20,000 to the School Nutrition Foundation’s “Help Feed School Kids Now!” emergency campaign. According to a USApple news release, the donation from their Apples4Ed grant program will help the School Nutrition Foundation, SNF, ensure that students who depend on the National School Lunch Program do not go hungry while in-person classrooms remain closed due to COVID-19. 

In its fourth year, Apples4Ed provides funding directly to schools to use for healthy eating initiatives. School closures this year, however, have disrupted the program. 

“When USApple was unable to award funding to schools for healthy eating initiatives, it made sense to look to our partners to see where we could instead assist in their efforts during this critical time,” said USApple President and CEO Jim Bair. “We applaud the School Nutrition Foundation’s effort to provide food and meal services for school kids who are at their most vulnerable.”

Through the “Help Feed School Kids Now!” campaign, SNF is working with nutrition professionals to help provide food and resources to school communities.

“This generous donation from USApple will support school nutrition professionals working on the front lines to ensure students continue to receive healthy school meals that fuel their success, whether they are learning in school or at home,” said School Nutrition Association CEO Patricia Montague, in the release. “With this funding, SNF will help address urgent needs for everything from carts and coolers for curbside and classroom meal service to personal protective equipment to keep staff and students safe.”

—by Jonelle Mejica