Together for School Meals

08/31/2026

Thanks to those who came out and said hi at the Jamestown Community Block Party last week! We had fun chatting 💛

08/28/2026

Why should every student have access to school meals?

Because a family’s income doesn’t always tell the whole story. For this week's Q&A, we’re breaking down why universal access is critical for making sure every child can be fed, included, and ready to learn.

08/21/2026

What difference can a school meal make? A lot. Every student deserves to come to school ready to learn, grow, and thrive.

Check out this week’s Q&A to learn more about how school meals at no cost support students.

08/21/2026

🎒 Back to school means new backpacks, new pencils... and back to worrying about lunch bills. 💸

No family should have to choose between paying for school meals and covering rent, gas, or groceries.

This November, we can change that. Vote YES on Measure 2 and help build a future where every kid eats at school, no cost to families. 🍎

📚 Learn more and get involved: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ldk2QpfmF/

08/13/2026

Each week, we're tackling one frequently asked question to help voters make an informed decision on Measure 2.

This week we want to highlight that need doesn't always fit inside an income cutoff. About 30,130 North Dakota children experience food insecurity and nearly half are likely ineligible for federal meal programs. Measure 2 would help fill this gap.

08/10/2026

📞 Ready to make some calls for free school meals?

Join us for one of our upcoming Virtual Phone Banks! We’ll start with a brief presentation and training, then you’ll make calls from the comfort of your own home.

📅 August 17, 24 & 31
⏰ 6–8 PM
💻 All you need is a laptop or tablet and a phone.

No prior experience needed! Just bring your voice and a willingness to help!

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/tfsmvirtualphonebank

08/07/2026

Have questions about Measure 2?

We're answering the most common questions we hear each week and breaking down what school meals at no cost mean for North Dakota students, families, and communities.

08/06/2026

“More than 186,000 people accepted help from the Great Plains Food Bank’s network of food pantries in the past year, a new record for the organization. The food bank, serving North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota, said one in four people in the region relied on the network during the fiscal year that ended June 30, said Ann Prifrel, CEO of Great Plains Food Bank. The total number of people using the food bank increased 16% compared to the previous fiscal year, according to the nonprofit food shelf. “Our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet,” Prifel said in an interview. She said increasing costs for food, gas, insurance and other necessities are driving people to reach out for food assistance from the organization. “Working people are turning to the Great Plains Food Bank for help,” Prifrel said.”

Read the full story in the North Dakota Monitor

More than 186,000 people accepted help from the Great Plains Food Bank’s network of food pantries in the past year, a new record for the organization.

07/16/2026

Robin Nelson, chair of the Together for School Meals sponsoring committee, said the campaign’s early success reflects strong, widespread support across the state.

“What brought us here today is something bigger than any one organization,” Nelson said. “This has truly been a statewide effort. People were asking to sign our petition. Volunteers are stepping up — in fact, about 174 people were collecting signatures at last count. Communities are leaning in, and the most common thing I hear is, ‘This is something I want the chance to vote on.’”

North Dakota voters will decide this November whether to provide free breakfast and lunch to every public school student. Here's how the Together for School Meals coalition reached the ballot, why North Dakota United is supporting the effort, and what supporters say the measure could mean for studen...