An annual fundraising campaign kicks off next week to help fight child hunger and expand participation in free breakfast programs at public schools.

The Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice is partnering with Safeway stores and the Food Research Action Center (FRAC) for the Nourishing Neighbors campaign during September.

According to a report from FRAC, more than 25,000 low-income children in the state participated in the national school breakfast program prior to the pandemic. But Hawaiʻi still ranks as one of the lowest in the country in participation.

Daniela Spoto is the Appleseed center’s director of anti-hunger initiatives. Spoto says the state Department of Education has done a good job providing free meals to students this school year. But she says the goal for this year’s campaign is to find innovative ways to increase participation after the pandemic.