NOVI, MI, March 11, 2024 - National Food Group, a leading food distributor for K12 schools nationwide, will once again offer its Grab The Tab lunch debt relief program. Launched in 2023, Grab The Tab was able to pay off over $20,000 in debt for three different schools in Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. National Food Group also donated $15,000 worth of its Zee Zees® better-for-you snacks-a popular line of fun, school-friendly snacks-to all three schools.
Applicants for this year’s grant program must apply by March 22 and share how funding will impact students and families in their district. Winners in 2024 will receive all or a portion of their meal debt paid off. Schools chosen will also receive Zee Zees® snacks through credit at local distributors.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the national public school meal debt is $262 million a year. While nine states introduced programs within the last two years making school breakfast and lunches universally free, sixty-eight percent of schools recently surveyed currently have unpaid school debt.
“School meal debt continues to be an issue in many districts across the country. While we’re excited to see more states adopt free and reduced meals, we know we are still far from being able to ensure every student has access to affordable, healthy meals,” said Samantha Bourque, National Food Group Corporate Social Responsibility Director. “The response to Grab The Tab in 2023 was astounding and eye-opening to the hurdles being faced every day in our cafeterias, and we’re committed to bringing this impactful program back.”
Grab The Tab is a program of Project SERVE, National Food Group’s corporate social responsibility initiative. This year's Grab The Tab contest will accept applications from March 11 through March 22. For more information and to apply, visit zzgrabthetab.com
ABOUT PROJECT SERVE
Project SERVE's mission is to use innovation and service to impact our communities. Project SERVE is National Food Group’s corporate social responsibility initiative. The company pledges a minimum of 5% of its earnings and the team’s time and talents to help make food more accessible. It also provides opportunities and resources for individuals seeking a career in the food industry while supporting our global environment.
ABOUT NATIONAL FOOD GROUP
Founded in 1990, National Food Group is one of America's fastest-growing wholesale food service manufacturers and distributors. National Food Group's family of brands includes Zee Zees® better-for-you snacks for kids of all ages, Elated Plates®, innovative food items ensuring a supreme sense of satisfaction with every bite, and Fare Promise® for truly square and deliciously nutritious meals at remarkably low prices. National Food Group offers three core programs to help make budgets and planning easy: Always Available®, Opportunity Buys®, and Commodity Processing™. Our food experts can also develop original items to meet custom nutritional and pricing requirements. The company is headquartered in Novi, Michigan. For more information, visit nationalfoodgroup.com.
Media Contact:
Terra Leach, Communications Specialist
248-560-2413 | tleach@nationalfoodgroup.com
Program Contact:
Samantha Bourque, Corporate Social Responsibility Director
248-560-2398 | sbourque@nationalfoodgroup.com