SAUGUS — The School Committee focused on approving grants and donations at its last meeting, including unanimously approving a key grant of $10,000 for the Project Bread Breakfast After the Bell collaboration for 2024-25.
Project Bread grants go toward organizations and initiatives that are helping combat hunger and food insecurity. In 2023, the School Committee backed the expansion of the program, continuing to support and approve students getting free lunches throughout the year.
In November 2019, The Greater Boston Food Bank reported that the participation level for breakfast in schools before the first school bell in Massachusetts was less than 10%.
Breakfast After the Bell was passed then unanimously by the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the same month to help combat student hunger, especially during COVID-19.
When students eat breakfast, school districts report better attendance, less tardiness, and fewer behavioral problems, according to No Kid Hungry. One of the goals of Breakfast After the Bell is to ensure that students have access to nutritious breakfasts and achieve academic success.
Saugus has actively searched for ways to combat food insecurity with the help of programs such as Breakfast After the Bell and Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus, which sends kids home with meals for the weekend.
“We are extremely excited about getting the Project Bread grant,” Chairman Vincent Serino said. “Saugus has worked hard on free lunch and breakfast for our students. As our students’ needs continue to change, we want to continue to be leaders in addressing these issues.”
