Free snacks for every OPRF student.

Yes. When a child feels hunger pangs, their nervous system and brain are preoccupied — they can't feel safe moment to moment, and they can't meet the expectations of the school environment while in survival mode. When students don't meet expectations, they face consequences: lower grades, detention, punitive repercussions. Providing food increases safety for students experiencing food insecurity and for their teachers and classmates.

We work closely with community partners — including dieticians at Beyond Hunger — to provide nutrient-dense foods in the cabinets. But our foundational principle is that a “healthy” child is one who doesn't experience chronic hunger, so the most important goal is providing food students will actually eat. The “healthy / unhealthy” binary carries judgment we deliberately avoid.

As a community, we commit to feeding every child. If a student takes 2 or 10 or even 20 granola bars, we won't prevent it. Research finds that universal-design food programs — accessible to all — reduce stigma and produce better outcomes for every student. There's a lot we don't know about children's lives outside school, and we don't pass judgment on how many snacks they may need. Our advisory council and student leaders set the norms and adjust if needed.

Yes! To the extent possible, we source foods free from the most common allergens (like peanuts and tree nuts). All food is labeled, and — just like the school lunch program — we respect high schoolers' ability to know their own bodies. Signage around the cabinets encourages students to read labels and understand ingredients.

Our program includes a working relationship with the building and grounds staff, plus an educational component about respectful, responsible participation. Caring for our space is part of a caring curriculum — the cabinets are an authentic opportunity for students to be better stewards of the building. The advisory council monitors and refines best practices, and we expect (and plan for) a learning curve in the early months.

Hunger is a distraction — an invisible one. Studies link food insecurity to anxiety, depression, and school suspensions. As part of the program, we offer training for faculty and staff on identifying signs of hunger and distress, so teachers can discreetly connect food-insecure students with more support. We're hopeful classroom food expectations can be balanced with the focus on feeding hungry kids.

This program is bold and ambitious — based on our research, there is no other program of this scope operating in a public school in the country. OPRF has the opportunity to be a leader in addressing hunger in adolescence. Food is a basic need, and a school committed to equity must ensure that need is met. Is it actually radical to suggest our children shouldn't be hungry?

Use the contact form or email [email protected] with “Hunger Program” in the subject line. Our goal is to reply within three school days.