A Silent Struggle in the Classroom

Every child deserves a fair shot at success. As a nonprofit leader, I’ve spent much of my life advocating for equity and opportunity, especially among our most vulnerable populations. But one challenge continues to show up in ways that are both obvious and hidden—hunger in our schools.

It’s easy to overlook. Kids don’t always speak up when they’re hungry. Teachers may not know which students missed breakfast or skipped dinner. But make no mistake: food insecurity is shaping the lives—and limiting the futures—of millions of students across the country.

The Connection Between Hunger and Learning

It’s not hard to understand that a hungry child struggles to concentrate. If you’ve ever tried to get through a workday on an empty stomach, you know how hard it is to focus. Now imagine being 8 years old, sitting in a classroom trying to learn math while your stomach is growling and your head is pounding from hunger. That’s the reality for 1 in 6 kids in the United States.

Hunger affects brain development, attention span, memory, and even behavior. Students who come to school hungry are more likely to fall behind academically. They have trouble staying awake, completing assignments, and absorbing new information. Over time, the gap widens—educationally, socially, and emotionally.

More Than Just Academics

The effects of food insecurity in school reach far beyond grades and test scores. Hunger also impacts a child’s emotional well-being and behavior. Hungry students are more likely to be irritable, anxious, withdrawn, or act out in frustration. Some kids become hyperactive. Others shut down completely.

This emotional toll often results in more disciplinary action, absences, or visits to the school nurse. But the root cause isn’t misbehavior—it’s malnutrition. These kids aren’t troublemakers. They’re just trying to cope the only way they know how.

In many cases, they carry the weight of adult responsibilities too early—worrying about where the next meal will come from, helping younger siblings eat, or rationing food at home. That kind of stress stays with them and makes learning even harder.

Stories That Stay With Me

In my nonprofit work, I’ve seen this play out firsthand. I remember visiting a rural school where a principal told me about a young boy who came to school early every day—not to learn, but to be first in line for breakfast. He was polite, well-mannered, and always said thank you. But when summer came and school meals ended, his family struggled to keep food on the table. When classes resumed in the fall, that same boy returned thinner, quieter, and less engaged.

Another time, I heard from a teacher who kept granola bars in her desk drawer—not for herself, but for students who couldn’t make it through the morning without something to eat. She didn’t advertise it, but the kids knew. And they came to her when they needed help. That’s the reality for too many educators today—they’re not just teaching; they’re feeding.

School Meals: A Lifeline, Not a Luxury

Programs like the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program are critical lifelines for children facing hunger. For some students, these meals are the most nutritious—and sometimes the only—meals they get all day.

But there are still barriers. Stigma is one. Many students avoid free or reduced-price lunch out of embarrassment. Others simply don’t have access. Some schools lack the resources to offer breakfast, or they serve it before school starts, making it hard for kids who rely on the bus or have transportation challenges.

We can—and must—do better. That means rethinking how and when meals are served, investing in meal quality, and supporting teachers and staff who are often on the front lines of this issue.

What We Can Do

Tackling hunger in schools is not just a job for educators or nonprofits—it’s a community responsibility. Here are a few ways we can all make a difference:

• Support Backpack Programs – These programs send food home with kids on weekends and holidays to ensure they don’t go hungry when school is out.
  
• Advocate for Universal School Meals – No child should feel ashamed to eat. Making school meals free for all removes stigma and ensures every student has the fuel they need to learn.
  
• Volunteer and Donate – Local food banks, pantries, and school programs rely on donations and community support to keep going. Whether it’s your time, your money, or your voice—every bit helps.
  
• Partner with Schools – Nonprofits, churches, and local businesses can collaborate with schools to provide snacks, meals, and nutrition education.
  

A Call to Action

As a man of faith, I believe feeding the hungry is not just an act of kindness—it’s a moral obligation. When we allow children to go hungry, we not only fail them—we fail ourselves. If we want strong communities and a brighter future, we must invest in the wellbeing of our students, starting with the most basic need: nourishment.

Food is more than sustenance. It’s dignity. It’s opportunity. It’s hope.

Let’s stop treating hunger as an invisible issue and start talking about it openly. Let’s recognize that no child can reach their full potential on an empty stomach. And let’s commit to making sure every student in every school has the chance to succeed—not just academically, but in life.

Because when we feed their bodies, we fuel their dreams.