Chesterfield County Public Schools receives $32K to fund students’ ‘most important meal of the day’

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) is getting a boost in grant money from No Kid Hungry Virginia to help students get "the most important meal of the day." The grant is $32,250, all aimed at helping students be more prepared for success during the school day. Studies show a nutritious breakfast can do that. Eating breakfast reportedly improves students’ ability to focus, perform academically and attend classes regularly.      The non-profit said it can be challenging with busy mornings, bus schedules and stigma around getting breakfast at school. Its goal is to make breakfast more convenient for students, so this money will go toward grab-and-go meals, breakfast in classrooms and breakfast kiosks to boost accessibility.   No Kid Hungry said one in seven students in Virginia schools are faced with food insecurity, and state data shows more students are using school breakfast programs than ever before. According to No Kid Hungry, an additional 25,000 students used school breakfast programs last year, making it the biggest increase in the past decade.    Just this school year, Chesterfield Schools increased its prices for school breakfast and lunch by 25 cents a meal. Director of Food and Nutrition Services Berkley Dunbrack told 8News in May that by next school year --2025 through 2026, -- 60% of students in the county will qualify for free meals. Chesterfield isn’t the only district getting this money. $200,100 will be distributed across nine other districts in the state, listed below. Salem City Public Schools  Halifax County Public Schools  Alexandria City Public Schools  Spotsylvania County Public Schools  Fairfax County Public Schools   Virginia Beach City Public Schools  Williamsburg-James City Public Schools  Roanoke City Public Schools  Montgomery County Public Schools