A shelf of snacks available for students at Neenah Middle School as part of the new Healthy Body and Minds initiative. March 26, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Fresh fruit, Nature Valley granola bars and beef sticks are just some of the snacks Neenah Middle School is offering to students who may not have access to healthy food options at home.
“This is a program that we piloted at the end of last school year, and we have continued in full force this year,” said NMS counselor Tracee Lemke Hildreth. “It is a program to provide snacks to our students throughout the school day.”
According to NMS, roughly 35% of its 2,000 students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
“When students come to school and they didn’t eat a proper breakfast, or they don’t have something for lunch, it really holds them back academically,” social worker Kassidy Urbanek said. “We see more behaviors that come from that. The goal is to feed them these healthy snacks so they can sit in class, they can focus. The testing is a huge one for them.”
The Feeding Minds and Bodies program is made possible through a partnership with the Neenah Rotary Club. According to member Renee Neumeyer, a $3,000 annual grant from Rotary International, as well as community donations, fund the roughly $5,000 initiative.
“This year started out with one grade and then immediately went to the second grade within the middle school. Helping to feed kids and give them a leg up on being able to study well and support their studies,” she said.
Students are flocking to the program.
“I will say, the best thing to hear is when students do come — the snacks we’re getting are the healthier ones — and they’re always like, ‘Oh my gosh, these are so amazing. We don’t get these all the time.’ It’s been a huge impact on our students,” Urbanek said.
Lemke Hildreth added, “And we’re dealing with middle schoolers that are always hungry. So, food is a big hit around here.”
The Neenah Rotary Club is hoping to expand the program across the district in the coming years.
Comments