The week of October 14 – 18 is National School Lunch Week. The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) are teaming up to raise awareness of the importance of Child Nutrition Programs in schools.
Around the state, school board members will eat with students during the week to learn about the healthy and tasty options and experience the social benefits of school lunches. You can follow along on social media through the #NSLW24inOR hashtag and the ODE and OSBA X accounts.
“National School Lunch Week is a welcomed opportunity to highlight the nutritious meals served to kids in Oregon’s schools,” ODE Director of Child Nutrition Dustin Melton said. “In addition, it provides a chance to commend the amazing Child Nutrition staff that work in schools to ensure meals are provided to Oregon’s kids each school day.”
“It’s this simple: kids learn better and build better connections with their peers and teachers when they receive nutritious, tasty lunches at school,” Governor Kotek said. “School Lunch Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the school staff who provide lunches to our students every day, and the state and local leaders who year after year prioritize the health and wellbeing of our kids.”
In 2023-24, over 43 million school lunches were served to Oregon students. The state legislature has endorsed the value of school meals, including funding of $106 million in the Student Success Act, in the 2023-2025 biennium for expanded school nutrition programs.
“Children learn better when they are nourished, and our schools provide vital nutrition for hundreds of thousands of students every weekday,” said OSBA Board President Sami Al-Abdrabbuh. “Our caring school staff are making sure students are not going to class hungry, giving each and every student a better opportunity for success.”
More information about National School Lunch Week and Oregon’s School Nutrition Programs can be found online.
