A Longer Table

Every child deserves a school meal that supports their health and learning. Through our Next Course Cafeterias model, A Longer Table partners with schools to transform their cafeterias, helping them transition from heat-and-serve meal service to scratch cooking by building the skilled teams and operational systems that make fresh, high-quality meals possible every day.

We believe lasting change happens by investing in the people and infrastructure behind school meals. Our team works alongside school leaders and cafeteria staff to strengthen kitchen operations, train and coach food service professionals, improve production systems, develop student-informed menus, and create cafeteria experiences that encourage participation. We also invest in the future of school food through the Food Fellowship, a paid internship program that prepares high school students for careers in culinary arts and school food while earning college credit and industry-recognized credentials.

Currently, A Longer Table partners with five Indianapolis schools, reaching nearly 3,000 students. Together, these schools will prepare more than 450,000 meals each school year. Next Course Cafeterias partners have reported higher meal participation, greater student satisfaction, reduced food waste, and improvements in attendance, demonstrating that stronger cafeterias contribute to stronger learning environments.

While schools receive federal reimbursement to purchase and serve meals, those funds do not cover the training, technical assistance, systems improvements, and operational support required to build a successful scratch cooking program. Philanthropic investment helps close that gap.

Funding will support hands-on coaching for cafeteria teams, menu development, workforce training, student engagement, and operational improvements that help schools sustain high-quality meal programs over time. By investing in the people and systems behind school meals, donors help schools build lasting capacity to serve fresh, nutritious meals that benefit students for years to come.