Evergreen Junior High gets grant for breakfast program

Evergreen Junior High School is one of eight Montana schools will get a portion of nearly $28,000 in private grant funding to implement the Breakfast After the Bell program. Evergreen will receive $3,700.

“Starting the school day with a nutritional breakfast allows students to focus on learning without being distracted by hunger,” Gov. Steve Bullock said in a press release.

Breakfast After the Bell is an innovative service model that shifts the time breakfast is served so students are allowed to eat a meal during or between morning lessons rather than in the cafeteria before classes begin. After incorporating breakfast into the morning schedule, schools see student participation in the breakfast program increase by double or more.

Other schools receiving funding are Box Elder School, Box Elder; Whittier School, Butte; Florence-Carlton School, Florence; Forsyth Elementary School, Forsyth; Greenfield K-8, Fairfield, Joliet High School, Joliet; and Canyon Creek School, Billings.

Since 2014, Governor and First Lady Bullock have partnered with Montana No Kid Hungry to support over 110 schools in implementing Breakfast After the Bell. Educators have found the program to be successful in addressing food insecurity and preventing trauma associated with chronic hunger, as well as promoting a culture of inclusivity that helps students feel connected and sets a positive tone for the school day. Over 300 schools across Montana are serving breakfast during class hours this school year.

Grants are offered by Montana No Kid Hungry, which is housed under the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Funding for breakfast grants is made possible through support from private donors, including Town Pump Charitable Foundation, Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, BNSF Railway, Round It Up Montana (a partnership between the MT Restaurant and Retail Associations, ProStart, and No Kid Hungry), Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Steele-Reese Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, and the Montana Association of Realtors. Operation of the school breakfast program is overseen by the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Schools can apply for funding online through the Montana No Kid Hungry grant portal, with opportunities available during the spring and fall. Anyone interested in starting a new breakfast program, transitioning their existing program to an alternative service model, or for questions about upcoming grant opportunities, contact Linda Cleatus at LCleatus@mt.gov or by phone at 406-444-3925.