School Nutrition Foundation awards 2026 equipment grants to schools nationwide

The School Nutrition Foundation named 2026 equipment grant recipients to help school meal programs expand scratch-made menus, improve efficiency and ease staffing and budget pressures. The awards, supported by multiple foodservice and equipment companies, come as 94% of surveyed school nutrition professionals say they need more equipment and infrastructure to cook from scratch and cut ultra-processed foods. Why it matters: - School nutrition programs are trying to serve more fresh, scratch-made meals while dealing with staffing shortages, tight budgets and aging equipment. - The grants are meant to help schools improve meal quality, speed service and create more welcoming cafeteria spaces. - A recent School Nutrition Association survey found 94% of respondents said they need more equipment and infrastructure to expand scratch preparation and reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods. What happened: - The School Nutrition Foundation announced the winners of its 2026 Equipment Grants Program. - School nutrition professionals nationwide applied for grants totaling more than $660,000. - The grants will support schools as they work to expand fresh and scratch-made menu options, increase efficiencies and improve the cafeteria experience. - Grant support came from Alto-Shaam, AmTab, Cambro Manufacturing, Food Warming Equipment Company, Fork Farms, Hobart, Innoseal, LTI, Vulcan and Winston Foodservice. The details: - Ashley Teasley of Fulton Independent Schools in Kentucky received an AmTab K-12 Indoor/Outdoor Furniture Grant worth up to $200,000. - Brittany Williams of Lumberton ISD in Texas received an AmTab K-12 Signage, Graphics and Decor Grant worth up to $100,000. - Casey Partain of Marshall County School District in Alabama received an AmTab K-12 Social Media Marketing Grant worth up to $83,000. - Lori Danella, SNS, of Lee’s Summit R-7 School District in Missouri received a Winston Foodservice Equipment Grant worth up to $50,000. - Mary Inzer of Gadsden City Schools in Alabama received a Winston Foodservice Equipment Grant worth up to $50,000. - Mary Beth Sheffield of Tishomingo County School District in Mississippi received a Vulcan Equipment Grant worth up to $50,000. - Renee Slotten-Beauchamp of Milwaukee Public Schools in Wisconsin received a Hobart Equipment Grant worth up to $40,000. - Susan Cavazos of Prairie Central CUSD #8 in Illinois received a Food Warming Equipment Company grant worth up to $25,000. - Missy Elliott of Armada Area Schools in Michigan received a Cambro Equipment Grant valued at more than $10,000. - Chelsea Trofholz of Boys Town in Nebraska received an LTI Equipment Grant valued up to $10,000. - Krista Byler of Union City Area School District in Pennsylvania received an Alto-Shaam Equipment Grant valued at $9,000. - The equipment awards include ovens, food processors, refrigeration, cafeteria furniture, holding cabinets, package sealing equipment, produce spinners and insulated tote bags. - Gay Anderson, SNS, chair of the School Nutrition Foundation, said many schools do not have access to the equipment or staff needed to increase fresh and scratch-made meals. - The 2026 program will also award 50 Innoseal Set-up Kits, each with two Innoseal Professional Sealers and one case of 28-pack multicolor refills. - Fork Farms will name four regional winners in the fall to receive a Flex Farm indoor hydroponic growing system valued at an estimated $5,500. Between the lines: - The grant list shows how schools are using cafeteria upgrades for more than food prep, including marketing, decor and student engagement. - Several winners tied the equipment to broader goals such as higher meal participation, better food safety, reduced staff stress and stronger program sustainability. - The mix of grants suggests school meal operators are trying to solve both operational bottlenecks and student perception challenges at the same time. What’s next: - Recipients will work with the supporting companies to fulfill their specific equipment needs. - Fork Farms will announce its four regional winners in the fall. - SNF said it will continue supporting school nutrition professionals through grants, scholarships, free training and research on trends and innovations. The bottom line: - The grant program is a direct bet that better equipment can help schools serve healthier meals more efficiently and make school cafeterias more appealing to students.