Omaha is one of 11 cities nationwide to get grant funding that'll help afterschool programs provide meals for students.
The $28,000 grant is part of an effort by the National League of Cities and the Walmart Foundation to combat childhood hunger. There currently are 260 afterschool programs in the Omaha area.
Barb Farho, education initiatives director for Mayor Jim Suttle’s office, says the grant means better nutrition for kids in afterschool programs. “It means that some kids who are receiving just a snack, maybe graham crackers and some milk, are going to be eligible for a real meal, because we know that not all kids necessarily have a full meal when they get home at night.”
Farho says the grant funding will be used for partnerships to help afterschool programs access federal funds for the meal programs. She says some programs now aren’t using those funds, or are unaware of the process to access the grants.