Support the GCNForum
At the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic in April, over 370 million students were cut off from school meal programs they rely on due to widespread school closures. As the world grapples with how to bounce back from these school closures, it is more important than ever that there is a platform for the school feeding community to freely access the latest knowledge and resources and exchange good practices, lessons learned, and new insights for ensuring children receive the nutrition and education they need to thrive.
GCNF is dedicated to providing programs that are accessible to all supporters of school meal programs, regardless of their ability to pay, which is why we’re proud to offer “Pay What You Can” registration options at the GCNForum – Virtual Conference. That said, GCNF must cover its expenses, and–as is true for so many organizations–the pandemic has made that more challenging than ever. With your support, GCNF can continue to offer the knowledge and resources needed to ensure children around the world are nourished and supported during this difficult time.

COVID-19 & School Meals

School closures due to the COVID-19 Pandemic is not only disrupting children’s education but also their access to school meals. For the most vulnerable children, a meal in school has been the most reliable source of food.
At the peak of school closures in April, almost 1.5 billion children and youth in 172 countries were out of school, and 370 million of those children were no longer receiving the school meals they depend on.
GCNF is tracking COVID-19’s effects on school meals closely. The 2019 and 2021 Global Surveys of School Meal Programs will reveal its impacts, giving us a picture of school meal programs before and after the pandemic.
Learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on school meals around the world below.