Everyone Can Support Food Education During Teacher Appreciation Month

Every May, we take a moment to celebrate the teachers who show up for kids every single day. And this year, there’s an even more important reason to show up for them in return.

Recent federal funding cuts have made it harder for schools to connect kids with food education. The elimination of SNAP-Ed ended federal support for these programs, and cuts to AmeriCorps hurt nonprofits, like our partners at FoodCorps, that do incredible work in schools. It’s a tough situation—but here’s what we know at Thrive Market: when our community steps up, things change.

Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or just someone who cares about our nation’s kids, there are so many ways to support food education right now, starting in your own backyard.

Meet FoodCorps

FoodCorps is a national nonprofit that’s been doing this important work for years, partnering with students, families, and schools to make sure kids have access to both nourishing meals and hands-on food education. They help kids get excited about fruits and veggies, support school nutrition teams in getting locally grown food onto lunch trays, and create school food environments where every child can feel good about eating.

Their big vision? A future where all 50 million public school students have access to food education and nourishing, free meals.

Why Food Education Is Such a Big Deal

Think about how much your relationship with food shapes your daily life — how you nourish your body when you need energy, what you cook when you want to feel good, what you know (or wish you knew) about where your food comes from. Kids are building those relationships right now, and most of them aren’t getting much help doing it.

Food education changes that. When kids get to grow, cook, and taste food with their own hands, they don’t just learn about nutrition; they learn about their cultures, their communities, and the world around them. They practice math, science, and history in ways that actually stick. And they develop a curiosity and confidence around food that follows them for life.

The best part? This isn’t just a job for teachers. Parents, caregivers, neighbors, and school garden volunteers all have a role to play.

Here’s How You Can Get Involved

FoodCorps wants to help everyone get involved with food education. No matter where you’re starting from, there’s a way in.

Try It at Home (or in the Classroom)

FoodCorps has a free library of lesson plans designed for kids in grades K–5, and they’re genuinely fun. Activities cover everything from how food grows to how different cultures prepare and celebrate it, with built-in tie-ins to math and science so educators can use them during the school day. They’re easy to prep, adaptable for home or on the go, and a great way to start a conversation with the kids in your life about where food really comes from.

Support a Teacher You Love

Know an educator who’d jump at the chance to bring food education into their classroom? Share these resources with them:

• Food Education in the Classroom      Microcredential — FoodCorps partnered with Teachers College, Columbia University      to create this six-week microcredential       for K–5 teachers. It’s grounded in nutrition science and experiential learning, built on nearly 15 years of real classroom testing, and earns participants CEU/CTLE credits toward professional licensure. Sessions are offered throughout 2026-2027. Check foodcorps.org/food-e for more info.     .
• Kindred Fellowship — A seven-month leadership program for current and aspiring school food leaders who want to drive real, lasting change in their school food systems. Applications for 2027 open this summer — sign up for updates here.

Take Action in Your Community

Curious what’s happening with food education in your state? FoodCorps’ Policy Action Map shows you the latest news, relevant bills, and how to get involved locally. You can also fill out their Advocacy Profile to get notified when there’s an opportunity to take action — making it easy to stay in the loop without having to track everything yourself.

Give a Little, Change a Lot

Just $36 supports one full year of FoodCorps’ food education and nourishing school meals for one child. At a time when federal support has pulled back, every contribution makes a tangible difference. Donate to FoodCorps here.

At Thrive Market, we believe that healthy food is a priority, not a privilege — and food education is a big part of making that real for the next generation. This Teacher Appreciation Month, let’s go a little further than a gift card. Let’s invest in the programs and people helping kids build a lifetime of healthy, joyful relationships with food.