Massachusetts Legislature Passes Breakfast After the Bell Legislation
(BOSTON–7/30/2020) The Massachusetts Legislature on Tuesday passed legislation to fight childhood hunger and boost participation rates in school breakfast programs in schools with high percentages of students from low-income families in the Commonwealth. The bill, An Act regarding breakfast after the bell, would require all public K-12 schools with 60 percent or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal National School Lunch Program to offer breakfast after the instructional day begins.
“As so many struggle with food insecurity during this pandemic, it is important that we focus on initiatives that have a proven track record of providing healthy, nutritious food directly to those who need it, in this case being our children and students,” commented Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education. “A hungry child cannot learn, and I would like to thank all of the parents and student advocates for their consistent and tireless efforts on behalf of our students.”
“Research shows that students who eat a healthy breakfast get better grades, go to the nurse less frequently, and miss fewer days of school,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Yet, too often, missed meals equal missed opportunities for our children. As a state, we simply cannot accept hungry students as part of our reality. Students who don’t eat breakfast start every single day at a very real disadvantage to their peers; passing this bill into law ensures that students across the Commonwealth have equitable access to nutrition to ensure that they start every day right, ready to learn. I’d like to extend my deepest thanks to Senator DiDomenico for his tireless advocacy on this issue, and to Senate Education Chair Jason Lewis, Speaker DeLeo and our partners in the House for their work on this bill as well.”
Massachusetts currently requires all schools with high percentages of students from low-income families to provide breakfast to every eligible student. However, because breakfast is typically offered before the bell and in the cafeteria, participation levels are low—less than 40 percent—compared to 80-90 percent participation for free and reduced lunch. Moving breakfast from before the bell to after the bell is a proven strategy to boost breakfast participation and ensure that all students have the nutrition they need to start their day ready to learn.
This legislation would require schools across Massachusetts serving low-income students to offer breakfast after the start of the instructional day through a variety of delivery models, including breakfast in the classroom, grab-and-go, and second-chance breakfast. This flexibility allows school districts to select the model that best fits their students’ needs.
As a federally reimbursed program, Breakfast After the Bell has the potential to provide up to $25 million statewide to Massachusetts school districts that increase participation rates to 80 percent and above. These payments are made directly to school nutrition departments, helping to support jobs, update kitchen equipment, and provide healthier menu options.
This bill now moves to the governor for his consideration.
Capacity Building Small Grants for Local Nonprofits
Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area Commits $20,000 in Funding
DEVENS, MA, July 24, 2020 – Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area is pleased to announce a new Capacity Building Small Grants Program designed to support local nonprofits striving to advance their missions during difficult times.
Freedom’s Way has committed $20,000 in funding to provide matching grants of up to $1,500 for equipment, services and training to improve remote communications or provide alternative means of engaging the public. Grants may include the purchase of audio/video equipment to create virtual tours and/or podcasts and to photograph, scan and digitize collections.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Visit FreedomsWay.org to learn more and submit an application.
Online Application Here
Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area includes the following 45 communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire: Acton, MA; Amherst, NH; Arlington, MA; Ashburnham, MA; Ashby, MA; Ayer, MA; Bedford, MA; Bolton, MA; Boxborough, MA; Brookline, NH; Carlisle, MA; Clinton, MA; Concord, MA; Devens, MA; Dunstable, MA; Fitchburg, MA; Gardner, MA; Greenville, NH; Groton, MA; Harvard, MA; Hollis, NH; Hudson, MA; Lancaster, MA; Leominster, MA; Lexington, MA; Lincoln, MA; Littleton, MA; Lunenburg, MA; Malden, MA; Mason, NH; Maynard, MA; Medford, MA; Milford, NH; Nashua, NH; New Ipswich, NH; Pepperell, MA; Princeton, MA; Shirley, MA; Sterling, MA; Stow, MA; Sudbury, MA; Townsend, MA; Westford, MA; Westminster, MA; Winchendon, MA; Woburn, MA
MWCC Receives Career Readiness and Educational Access Grant
July 24, 2020 - Gardner, MA – The MWCC Foundation is pleased to announce the receipt of the 2020 Career Readiness and Educational Access Grant Program, facilitated by the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.
The grant of $28,000 will be used to support a new MWCC Student Stabilization Scholarship Fund that will be awarded to North Central Massachusetts residents to cover their unmet costs for tuition, fees, and books while they attend Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC). This scholarship will fund at least 30 full-time and/or part-time new and existing MWCC students of approximately $1,000 scholarships each to meet unmet financial aid need and/or expected family contribution.
“The COVID -19 pandemic has hit our students very hard. Many are out of work or do not have the technology needed to complete their classwork remotely” comments Carla Zottoli, Executive Director of Development and MWCC Foundation, Inc. “This grant will give us the means to reach out to students that have no other options and help them complete their college degree. It will truly allow us to make sure that some of our most vulnerable students can achieve their dreams.”
This scholarship fund will have two funding priorities and recipients will be selected in a collaboration between MWCC’s Retention Office (i.e. the Thrive Center) and MWCC’s Office of Student Financial Services.
The first priority for funding will be intentionally focused on the over 169 students who have dropped out or stopped out of their college education at MWCC between March and April 2020 because of the COVID-19 crisis. Through a partnership with MWCC’s Thrive Center, it is this project’s goal to actively reach out to the students who are closest to their educational goals and attract them back to MWCC to complete their Associate degree or certificate with the assistance of this scholarship fund.
“Amidst these turbulent times, our resilient students at the Mount continue to push forward with their educational and career goals. Providing students this scholarship and wraparound support will alleviate some stress in an already extremely stressful time, and for that we are so grateful,” stated Shelby A. Shaw, MWCC’s Director of Retention.
The second priority for this scholarship fund will be to provide new North Central Massachusetts residents whose original plans for funding their higher education have been impacted because of the COVID-19 crisis and who have an unmet financial aid need that can no longer be met by their families or themselves. Once a student receives the MWCC Student Stabilization Scholarship Fund, the colleges’ Thrive Center retention specialists will continue to track and provide proactive retention counseling with these students throughout their time at MWCC to encourage retention and completion.
About the MWCC Thrive Center
The THRIVE center is a support structure with the goal of increasing the successful achievement of student’s educational goals. A one-stop-shop for students to access personalized educational and career advising, tutoring, and academic, time management, and study skills support as well as peer mentoring. Learn more at mwcc.edu/academics/thrive-center.
About the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is a tax-exempt public charity founded in 2001, created by and for the people of the North Central Massachusetts region. Since then, the Community Foundation has been helping people establish charitable funds and make grants to improve the quality of life in the 33 communities across the region. The foundation works with individuals, families, financial advisors and nonprofit organizations. Learn more at www.cfncm.org.
About the MWCC Foundation
The mission of the Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation, Inc. is to secure time, talent, and treasure from private and public sources that will enable the college to provide accessible, affordable education, and to implement social, economical, and cultural initiatives. Learn more at mwcc.edu/giving.
GFA Federal Credit Union Awards David Jacques Memorial Scholarship
Tina M. Sbrega, President & CEO, GFA Federal Credit Union; Paul Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice-President, GFA Investment Management; and Normand Mercier, Rindge Branch Manager, GFA Federal Credit Union present a check to the David Jacques Memorial Scholarship winner, Alexis Faircloth in the amount of $500.00.
(Front, Left to Right: Tina M. Sbrega, President & CEO, GFA Federal Credit Union; Alexis Faircloth, scholarship recipient; Back, Left to Right: Normand Mercier, Rindge Branch Manager, GFA Federal Credit Union; Paul Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice-President of GFA Investment Management)
Rindge, NH – Each year GFA is honored to present the David Jacques Memorial Scholarship celebrating the memory of long-time GFA supporter and member of the Board of Directors, David Jacques, to an area high school senior for their scholastic achievements and extracurricular engagement.
This year’s recipient is Alexis Faircloth, a senior at Conant High School and a Rindge, NH resident. Tina M. Sbrega, President & CEO; Paul Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice-President, GFA Investment Management; and Normand Mercier, Rindge Branch Manager presented a check in the amount of $500.00 to Ms. Faircloth. Alexis is a student who continues to balance honors-level classes, extracurricular activities, and finds joy in being an active volunteer in her community.
Ms. Faircloth’s work ethic and dedication to her school and community make her a worthy recipient of the David Jacques Memorial Scholarship. She plans to pursue a Business degree in either accounting or marketing at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY.
While receiving the scholarship she stated, “When I heard that I would be awarded this scholarship, I was of course ecstatic and even a little relieved-- we all know how college expenses can add up. I'm really grateful for the extra bit of financial support.”
“The graduating class of 2020 is extraordinary for many reasons.” Said Tina M. Sbrega, President & CEO of GFA Federal Credit Union. “During a time of such uncertainty, these students have continued to excel. We are proud to provide this scholarship year after year. From all of us at GFA, congratulations to the class of 2020.”