International School Meals Day: FFTP School Feeding Programs help children stay focused, energized, ready to learn
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (March 12, 2026) – As the world marks International School Meals Day, Food For The Poor (FFTP) is highlighting how school feeding programs are helping children overcome hunger and succeed in the classroom.
For students facing food insecurity, a nutritious meal is more than breakfast or lunch, it’s a foundation for concentration, attendance and long-term academic success.
Observed this year on Thursday, March 12, International School Meals Day raises public awareness worldwide about the importance of good nutrition for all students, regardless of their circumstances. FFTP operates 16 school feeding programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, FFTP-Haiti operates 802 school feeding programs exclusively in Haiti. The programs align with FFTP’s Hunger Relief & Nutrition focus area, one of 10 areas where the charity aims to make sustainable changes.
“Starting the day with a good breakfast enables students to better focus and engage in classroom activities,” said FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine. “Parents also take comfort in knowing their children are receiving a nutritious meal while at school.”
SHINE (Strengthening Hope through Inclusion, Nutrition, and Education), a school-based feeding project spearheaded by FFTP in northern Haiti, is a powerful example of responding where the need is greatest. According to the World Food Program, 51 percent of Haiti’s population is experiencing or at risk of acute food insecurity, creating one of the most severe food and education crises in the world.
Thanks to FFTP and its donors who have given generously in support of SHINE, 11,884 students at 29 schools in Nord-Est department, Haiti, are receiving protein-rich sandwiches each day to help them stay healthy, focused, and able to thrive in the classroom. Students receive a breakfast sandwich made with peanut butter and cassava bread, which offers a balance of healthy fats, protein, and carbohydrates, promoting fullness, managing blood sugar levels, and sustaining energy – an ideal nutritional combination for helping children perform their best in school.
School officials are reporting that students are performing better academically, absences have decreased, students are more punctual, and they are more confident.
“We have observed a significant improvement in student behavior and enthusiasm for learning,” said Father Jean Emile Claudius at Ecole Presbyterale N-D du Perpetuel Secours. “They arrive at school motivated and ready to work.”
Students also report a positive impact on their academic performance and overall well-being.
“Thanks to this breakfast, I have more energy and feel better physically,” said a 6th grader at Collège Baptiste des Perches. “I also noticed that I understand math faster and make fewer mistakes in my exercises. My teacher told me that I have become one of the best in the class!”
SHINE also helps local farmers and businesses that supply the ingredients for the sandwiches, with assistance from in-country partners Acceso and Met Fey Vet. The cassava bread is sourced from 600 small farmers across six communities in Haiti’s north and northwest, and locally sourced peanut butter helps support 612 peanut farmers through training, fair contracts, and stable prices.
In another example of feeding programs making a difference, FFTP and World Food Program USA partnered to support the World Food Programme in El Salvador in its efforts to strengthen the national school feeding agenda and expand the production of Biofortik, a fortified beverage added to school meals to combat malnutrition and help children learn, grow, and thrive. Biofortik is a government-led initiative, and this partnership helped scale its impact across the country.
In 2025, the program reached more than 650,000 students nationwide. The partnership also supported 500 local farmers – most of whom were women – by strengthening their capacity to supply the essential ingredients for Biofortik. Through technical assistance and training, farmers improved their production practices and gained access to additional market opportunities.
“With the support of our generous donors and the commitment of our trusted partners, we are reaching thousands of children through feeding programs that help them grow strong and succeed in school,” Raine said. “Our goal is to show that poverty is not inevitable. With the right support, we can help children create better lives for themselves and their families, while also helping communities grow stronger through a shared sense of hope and support.”
About Food For The Poor
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the United States, is committed to facilitating paths out of poverty and transforming lives. As an interdenominational Christian ministry, we help families across Latin America and the Caribbean. Our efforts span urgent humanitarian relief and long-term development – from emergency aid and hunger alleviation to education, housing, and economic empowerment. We follow a distinctive approach that integrates faith, multi-sector strategies, and trusted partnerships. Whenever possible, we strive to work at the community level, partnering with local leaders and residents to co-create sustainable solutions that address the multi-dimensional nature of poverty. For more information, please visit foodforthepoor.org.
Ernestine Williams
Communications
305-321-7342
[email protected]
