Nova Scotia School Food Fund
Reaching the Full Potential of School Food in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia School Food Fund
School food programs in Nova Scotia’s public schools take many forms—from breakfast and snack offerings to cooking clubs, school gardens, and the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program, which is now available to all elementary and junior high students. As the need and uptake for these programs grows, rising food costs and significant gaps in school food infrastructure are just a few of the challenges faced by school communities. Sustained and increased support is essential to ensure these programs can continue to expand, reach more students, and advance key goals like waste reduction and the incorporation of local food.
Donate to the Nova Scotia School Food Fund
The Nova Scotia School Food Fund is administered by Nourish Nova Scotia through our partnership with the Government of Nova Scotia. Nourish Nova Scotia does not retain any portion of your contribution. All donations to the fund are eligible for a charitable tax receipt and are distributed to schools across the province through the provincial government.
To support Nourish Nova Scotia’s programs and activities directly, please click here to be redirected to our donation page.
By donating to the School Food Fund, 100% of your donation will go directly to support the delivery of school food programs in Nova Scotia, including focus areas like:
- Food purchases that support ongoing needs for the expansion of breakfast, lunch, and snack programs while helping to support diverse student needs and prioritize local food.
- Critical infrastructure upgrades to enable schools to prepare, cook, and serve meals and snacks for a growing student body.
If you would like to discuss how your donation to the School Food Fund can make a targeted impact for students, or support a program in a particular school or region, please reach out to discuss the options:
Jennifer Pierce, Community Giving Manager: jennifer.pierce@nourishns.ca
Food is such an important part of our school community!
When food is free and shared, it allows learning to become a priority because every student is nourished and ready to engage. Our meal and snack programs support focus, cooperation, and fewer classroom disruptions, making an impact that goes far beyond full stomachs. It shapes better education outcomes by giving students the stability they need to thrive.
Sharing food with peers and teachers also strengthens relationships. It gives students a natural space to practice social skills, build confidence, and support one another. When students feel connected, the need for discipline decreases and the entire school environment becomes more positive, welcoming, and human.
Or school is big on student leadership! As a teacher, I see every day how student leadership, supported by the community, builds a sense of belonging—food becomes more than a meal; it becomes a force for change in how young people see themselves and each other.
– Teacher, Northumberland Regional High
School Food vs. School lunch
School food programs can include breakfast, lunch and snacks. Some schools have all of these and some only have one. All schools in Nova Scotia have a universal free breakfast program.
The Nova Scotia School Lunch program is one part of the school food program in Nova Scotia public schools. The program launched at the start of the 2024/25 school year with a focus on elementary students. It is being expanded to junior high students for the 2025/26 school year, with plans to include all grades in the next phase of development.
At the start of the 2024-25 school year, school food programs in Nova Scotia expanded significantly through a monumental investment by the Province of Nova Scotia in a universally accessible School Lunch Program.
The program launched with a focus on elementary students and expanded to include junior high students at the beginning of the 2025–26 school year. A final phase of development will support expansion to all grades. As the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program grows, we want to ensure that it becomes the best program it can be, with major positive impacts for students and the whole province. Nourish Nova Scotia has launched a dedicated School Food Fund that will help to ensure that schools are well-equipped to prepare, cook, and serve high-quality meals and that as many students as possible can benefit from nutritious food at school.