Since 2020, Kellanova and its charitable fund have commissioned several pieces of research to help better understand the role of school feeding programs (SFPs) on child development.

In previous research, we found out how SFPs create a positive impact on the physical and emotional health of the kids who take part. However, for our latest report, we wanted to step outside the school gates to understand the impact of these programs—particularly those tied to food banks—from a broader societal perspective. To achieve this, we collaborated with The Global FoodBanking Network to interview operators, volunteers, and families at SFPs and food banks in five countries: South Africa, India, Mexico, Canada and Australia.

Through 64 interviews, we found a lot of nuances—but even more similarities. Overall, the qualitative research showed that SFPs:

1. Help children integrate into their communities. SFPs offer children a fertile environment for building and fostering friendship bonds. Beyond the obvious nutrition benefits, SFPs provide children with the nourishment and energy they need to engage more fully in extracurricular activities within school and in their communities. These shared meal opportunities also help create a sense of belonging among students and staff that extends beyond the meal itself into the rest of the day. Plus, the inherently inclusive nature of SFPs helps improve relationships between different community groups. Finally, SFPs can offer a gathering point – or “arrowhead” as one parent called them – to bring important physical and mental health services to young people and their families.
2. Encourage social inclusivity, often directly or indirectly engaging the entire family and passing along skills like food waste reduction. SFPs often benefit the entire family unit. Mornings are less stressful for parents when they know their children will join others at a breakfast feeding program. For families who rely on the meals to meet their children’s nutrition needs, an even greater burden is lessened. As an added benefit, the open-to-all nature of SFPs introduces behaviors around social inclusivity (sharing, accepting, including, etc.) that children then model at school, at home and in their communities. Additionally, in some countries, SFPs nurture the family dynamic, providing sessions on meal preparation, food safety and hygiene tips, food waste reduction, and healthy eating suggestions. At a minimum, students bring home some of these learnings and often share with the family.
3. Help build bridges in the community. There is evidence that, through the shared experience of their children using SFPs, parents are building formal and informal networks – such as WhatsApp text groups – where they exchange ideas and experiences to support each other within the community. These programs also can act as critical gateways to other resources, including healthcare, extracurricular activities and social support engagement. The volunteer nature of food banks also builds bridges. Volunteers of various socioeconomic backgrounds from across the community working together at a food bank creates empathy and a sense of shared responsibility among participants.

School feeding programs and food banks provide much more than just meals; they are pivotal in shaping healthier, more cohesive communities. Their impact spans improved opportunities for children, strengthened family dynamics, and enhanced social bonds within the broader community.

Through our Better Days™ Promise, Kellanova is dedicated to feeding people facing food insecurity; supporting programs such as breakfast clubs and summer meal programs is one of the ways we do so. Kellanova also works closely with food banks on six continents in more than 30 countries to help feed people facing food insecurity, and is a founding partner of The Global FoodBanking Network.

Read and download the full report here. Want to create #BetterDays for kids and families facing hunger around the world? Donate to The GlobalFoodbanking Network.