Five actions you can take to celebrate afterschool nutrition programs this month

By Kelsey Boone, Senior Child Nutrition Policy Analyst at FRAC and Erik Peterson at the Afterschool Alliance. This article was originally published on the FRAC Chat blog on October 15, 2026. It is reposted here with permission.

When the final school bell rings, many children transition from the classroom to an afterschool program where they can continue learning, build meaningful connections, and thrive in a safe, supportive environment. Afterschool programs are shown to improve student academic performance, increase student attendance, and help children grow both socially and emotionally. Offering meals through the Afterschool Nutrition Programs can strengthen these benefits while also increasing participation and supporting overall program budgets.

Afterschool suppers and snacks are more important than ever. In July 2025, Congress passed the budget reconciliation law (H.R. 1), which made unprecedented changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and will result in many families with children losing some or all of their nutrition benefits. As household food resources shrink, the need for afterschool suppers and snacks is expected to grow.

At the same time, participation in the Afterschool Nutrition Programs already falls short of demand, and limited funding for afterschool activities could leave even more children without access to the enrichment, care, and nutrition they need after the school day ends.

That is why this year's Lights On Afterschool celebration is especially important.

On October 22, the Afterschool Alliance will hold its 27th annual Lights On Afterschool event. This celebration of afterschool programs is the perfect opportunity to engage in activities that elevate both the importance of afterschool programs and meals, and the need for further investments to support the well-being of children in every state. Here are five ways you can get involved:

1. Host or attend a Lights On Afterschool event. Help amplify the message that afterschool programs and meals have a positive impact on children, and that more needs to be done to expand access to programming across the country by either hosting an event or attending one in your area.
2. Call on your state and federal policymakers to increase afterschool funding. Urge your federal representatives to increase funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, school-age child care through the Child Care Development Block Grant, and the AmeriCorps program in the fiscal year 2027 spending bill. State leaders should also prioritize funding to support existing programs and expand access to afterschool opportunities.
3. Incorporate meals into your existing program. If your program already serves snacks, consider moving from snack to supper. Snacks help keep children focused and engaged, but for many students, they are not enough. Serving a full meal can better support children’s health and learning while helping programs strengthen their budgets and fit meal service into existing operations.
4. Help spread the word about afterschool meals and the vital role they play. Many families who could benefit from the Afterschool Nutrition Programs do not use them, while eligible programs may not participate because they are unfamiliar with how the programs work. Visit FRAC’s Afterschool Nutrition webpage to learn more, then share resources and best practices that can help programs successfully serve afterschool meals.
5. Call on Congress to repeal SNAP cuts. As more families lose access to SNAP, more children will face the effects of hunger. While expanding access to afterschool meals is crucial, Congress must also reverse the SNAP cuts to ensure children can access the nutrition they need to grow and thrive.

Check out the Afterschool Alliance and Lights On Afterschool webpage for more information on afterschool programs. For information on afterschool nutrition, check out FRAC’s resources on the Afterschool Meals Programs.