Rocket Fuel to Highlight Alaska Nutrition Innovations at No Kid Hungry Summer Nutrition Summit

Henning Inc.’s Executive Director Invited to National Conference in D.C.

Anchorage, AK – Rocket Fuel is proud to announce its participation in the 2026 No Kid Hungry Summer Nutrition Summit, taking place in Washington, D.C., January 12–13, 2026. The summit brings together state agencies, community organizations, summer meal sponsors, and USDA staff to explore strategies for combating childhood hunger during the summer months.

The event focuses on important topics such as rural and non-congregate summer meals, the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, and effective ways to reach children who lose access to school meals when school is out. Summit sessions include plenaries, partner-learning workshops, office hours, and networking opportunities. The goal is to share innovative approaches and scale successful programs nationwide.

Alaska Faces Unique Summer Hunger Challenges

In Alaska, about 1 in 5 children struggles with hunger. While the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development runs the Summer Food Service Program to provide free meals to children under 18, participation rates remain low, reaching only about 20 percent of eligible children. Remote communities face additional barriers, making access to healthy, nutritious meals particularly challenging.

Alaska has implemented creative solutions such as the Meals to You program, which mails USDA-compliant meal boxes to children in 11 rural communities. In summer 2023, Meals to You served 430,000 meals, expanding the reach of the Summer Food Service Program to areas without traditional summer meal sites. The state also participates in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, providing grocery benefits to families whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, with Alaska benefits higher than the national average because of the high cost of living.

Rocket Fuel: Bridging the Summer Hunger Gap

Rocket Fuel’s programs align closely with the summit’s goals, offering a year-round nutrition model that ensures children have access to ready-to-eat meals, including during the summer months. By partnering with schools, recreation centers, and local organizations, Rocket Fuel demonstrates a community-driven, scalable approach to reducing childhood hunger.

Volunteers play a key role in packing and distributing meals, building sustainability, and local engagement. Rocket Fuel also brings experience operating under the Child and Adult Care Food Program, managing federal nutrition program compliance, and leveraging that expertise to inform innovative approaches to summer meal programs.

In 2025, Rocket Fuel delivered 39,608 meals and snacks to children across the Anchorage community, including:

• Summer Meals: 11,398

• Refuel Bags: 11,670

• Afterschool Meals: 16,540

  
  

At the summit, Rocket Fuel’s Executive Director, Shawn Tes, will present on Alaska-specific challenges and successes, including:

• The underuse of the Summer Food Service Program despite significant need

• Innovative rural outreach through Meals to You

• Higher Summer EBT benefits supporting families in Alaska

• The power of community partnerships and volunteer engagement

• Lessons from CACFP compliance that can inform federal and state programs elsewhere

“No child should be hungry,” explained Shawn Tes. “Rocket Fuel was launched to meet an urgent need in our community. Partnering with schools, working closely with exceptional principals, and collaborating with community partners, we are ensuring that children in Anchorage have access to nutritious meals year-round. I am excited to share our strategies and learn from other leaders at the No Kid Hungry Summit.”

About Rocket Fuel

Rocket Fuel is a nutrition program operated by Henning Inc., a community-based organization supporting individuals and families facing homelessness, mental health challenges, and food insecurity. Rocket Fuel provides children with nutritious, ready-to-eat meals year-round, including during the summer when school meals are unavailable.