If you would like to learn more about the School Breakfast Program and other child nutrition programs, the following resources are an excellent starting point. We have included additional information on child food insecurity in Illinois, the financial benefits of implementing alternative breakfast models, summer and after-school meals, as well as the Community Eligibility Provision, which can be a tool for increasing reimbursement rates for school nutrition programs, including breakfast.

Resources

FAQ’s

Facts and Figures

General Breakfast Resources

Finances

Rise & Shine Illinois and No Kid Hungry Illinois Grants

Other Child Nutrition Programs

2015 No Kid Hungry Illinois and Illinois State Board of Education Summer Summit & After-school Meals Info Session PowerPoints

 

Breakfast PSA’s

posters

Click to download full-size PDF

letter to the editor template

Supporters of Rise and Shine Illinois are encouraged to write a letter to the editor of their local newspaper. Please use the following template and include information specific to your locality. Copy and paste from below, or download as a Microsoft Word document here.

Dear _____________:

Educating the next generation of young people is critical to the success of our nation, our state and our local community. But before children can excel in school, something else must come first: food. Well-nourished children are ready to learn every day. They have the energy to participate in class, focus on their work and achieve academic success. But too many children in _____________ come to school hungry. More than 21 percent of children in Illinois—1 in 5 children—is food insecure, meaning they’re unsure of when or where they will receive their next meal. The Great Recession has left many families without the resources to provide food for their families.

We have an opportunity to ensure that no child begins the school day hungry. All schools in the state can provide breakfast, whether in the cafeteria, classroom or even in hallways. Schools can offer breakfast with minimal costs: meals are reimbursed by the federal government, and the Rise and Shine Illinois campaign provides grants to schools to implement breakfast. I urge____________ to make breakfast available for all students. Studies show that students who regularly eat school breakfast score 17 percent higher on standardized tests. After all, we grew up hearing “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Our future generations are at risk unless we equip them with the nutrients they need to thrive in school.

Sincerely,