We are a broad and mighty coalition with the mission to provide school meals to all Minnesota students.
Hunger-Free Schools is dedicated to providing access to school meals for each and every student in Minnesota. Led by Hunger Solutions Minnesota and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, we’re a passionate coalition of business and health care leaders, nonprofit and advocacy groups, and education and youth partners. Collectively, we’re taking hunger off the table to make room for more equitable schools, a stronger Minnesota, and no hungry kids.
Hunger Solutions Minnesota
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Advocates for Better Health
Allina Health
American Diabetes Association
Appetite for Change
Cargill
Children’s Minnesota
EdAllies
Education Minnesota
Every Meal
Food Research and Action Center
General Mills
Land O’Lakes
Land Stewardship Project
Local Public Health Association
MAZON
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Minnesota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity
Minnesota Farmers Union
Minnesota School Social Workers Association
Multicultural Autism Action Network
Second Harvest Heartland
SEIU 284
Share Our Strength
Taher Inc.
The Food Group
Youthprise
Meet the coalition and hear why we support feeding Minnesota students.
Hunger Solutions
When students are fed healthy meals, they learn better – it's better for their academic, behavioral and social-emotional success. School meals are often one of the more nutritious meals students receive throughout the day. And by providing free school meals to all Minnesota students, we can put a dent in childhood hunger, knowing our youth are receiving breakfast and lunch, five days a week, during the school year.
- Colleen Moriarty, executive director at Hunger Solutions
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
A healthier future for Minnesota starts with addressing institutional barriers to health – especially for communities most impacted by racial and health inequities. We believe that all people, regardless of race, income, ZIP code or other factors, should have opportunities to live the healthiest lives possible.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is proud to support the Healthy, Hunger-Free Schools campaign that works to make school meals free for all students statewide. Collectively, we’re driven by the vision of no hungry students, more equitable schools, and a stronger, more resilient Minnesota.
- Bukata Hayes, vice president of racial and health equity and chief equity officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Appetite for Change
AFC supports this campaign because the Youth are the Truth. Every child, regardless of where they go to school, what their cultural background or economic status is, should be able to eat while they are at school. It's literally the only part of school that the government doesn't pay for. If we invest in quality, universally free meals for kids in school, we will go a long way towards solving education disparities, helping students' brains develop, and eliminating the government bureaucracy that has prevented all youth from thriving at school.
- Taronda Richardson, youth training & opportunities program manager at Appetite for Change
EdAllies
EdAllies believes that all students deserve a rigorous and engaging education. One component of that experience must include access to school meals because kids can't learn on an empty stomach. We believe it is time to make school meals part of the school experience for every child in Minnesota.
- Matt Shaver, policy director at EdAllies
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Legal Aid knows that accessible, nutritious school meals are critical to child health and wellbeing. Free school meals not only help the littles learn — they alleviate stress in families experiencing hunger.
- Jessica Webster, staff attorney at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Minnesota Farmers Union
We support hungry free schools, because it’s the right thing to do and it creates good local markets for farm products. A win-win for students and farmers.
- Stu Lourey, government relations director at Minnesota Farmers Union
Second Harvest Heartland
Second Harvest Heartland supports the Hunger-Free Schools Campaign because we know that we can’t solve hunger through food distribution alone—federal nutrition programs, like school meals, are critical to addressing childhood food insecurity in Minnesota. School meals are a critical source of nutrition for many children, helping them learn and be active in the short term, and thrive academically, physically, and emotionally in the long term.
- Rachel Sosnowchik, public affairs specialist at Second Harvest Heartland
Youthprise
At Youthprise, we focus on learning and leadership, economic opportunity, and health and safety for Minnesota youth. Ensuring every student has access to a nutritious meal at school helps young people do better in all these areas. They are in a better position to thrive both physically and mentally. Research also shows their learning performance improves, and they have the fuel needed to be leaders in our community or contribute to our labor force.
- Matt Norris, policy director & director of MN afterschool advance at Youthprise
Every Meal
Every student in Minnesota should have the food they need to learn and grow. Providing free school meals to all children will allow the children to focus in class, will eliminate lunch shaming, and will create more equity in child nutrition in Minnesota. Free school meals for all students is an important cause that we all should rally behind and will help all Minnesota students succeed and thrive.
- Rob Williams, president at Every Meal