BY CHRIS McDANIEL
KAWC NEWS
YUMA — Underprivileged youths in Yuma will now have better access to breakfast and no-cost meal programs thanks to a $30,000 grant from the No Kid Hungry Foundation.
The grant has been awarded to the Yuma Union High School District.
No Kid Hungry, launched in 2010, is a national campaign led by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit organization.
The grant will support the purchase of new outdoor breakfast carts for Kofa High School and Gila Ridge High School, along with marketing materials aimed at increasing awareness of the district’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which provides no-cost breakfast and lunch to all students.
“We’re optimistic that this effort will not only boost participation, but also help students realize the importance of eating breakfast,” says Elena Hildreth, YUHSD Executive Director of Student Nutrition. “Each step brings us closer to ensuring every student has access to nutritious meals, no matter the time of day.”
YUHSD currently offers breakfast on mobile carts across its seven campuses, making meals convenient and accessible for students.
This grant will help improve breakfast services and provide flexibility for additional uses, including summer meal programs and lunch services. By increasing breakfast participation, district officials say they can also strengthen their ability to maintain CEP status.
As part of a rolling grant program, YUHSD will have the chance to apply for additional funding in the future to extend these efforts to other campuses.