For the 2026–27 school year, a family of four in Virginia can qualify for free school meals at an annual income of up to $42,900 and reduced-price meals up to $61,050. But the cost of housing, transportation, childcare, groceries, and other necessities doesn't stop at an eligibility threshold.

That gap is where The Open Lunch Project begins.

The Open Lunch Project is committed to supporting K–12 students throughout Virginia as our first phase of impact. Beginning with the elimination of existing school lunch debt, we aim to help students access nutritious meals without stigma or financial hardship. As our partnerships and funding grow, we plan to expand into additional school districts, develop community meal initiatives, and ultimately bring our model to communities across the United States.

Who We Serve

Phase One (2026–2027): Launch fundraising efforts, establish partnerships across Virginia, and begin eliminating outstanding K–12 school lunch debt.

Phase Two: Expand into additional school districts while introducing community outreach, nutrition education, and food security initiatives.

Phase Three: Grow through regional and national partnerships to bring the Open Lunch Project model to communities across the country, ensuring more students have access to nutritious meals without financial barriers.

Our Growth Journey

Although our public launch is just beginning, the vision behind The Open Lunch Project is already taking shape. Established in February 2026, The OLP has its legal and organizational foundation necessary for sustainable growth and are launching fundraising in Fall 2026! Every partnership formed, every donor welcomed, and every student served brings us one step closer to a future where no child experiences hunger or stigma because of an unpaid school lunch balance. Together, we are creating lasting change—one student, one school, and one community at a time.

Looking Ahead

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our mission is to ensure that every child can eat alongside their peers without stigma or hardship. We accomplish this by:

    • Eliminating outstanding student school lunch debt

    • Providing funding for nutritious meals to children experiencing food insecurity

    • Partnering with schools, districts, and community organizations to ensure equitable access to meals

    • Educating communities about childhood hunger and its lasting impact

    • Facilitating donor contributions that directly support student meal accounts

  • Currently and as we grow, The Open Lunch Project offers:

    • School Lunch Debt Relief – Working with schools to eliminate outstanding K–12 student lunch balances so every child has equitable access to school meals.

    • Community Partnerships – Collaborating with schools, businesses, nonprofits, and local organizations to address food insecurity and support students.

    • Nutrition & Food Security Education – Sharing educational resources and promoting awareness about childhood hunger, nutrition, and equitable access to healthy meals.

    • Volunteer Opportunities – Connecting community members with meaningful ways to support students and families.

    • Corporate & Community Sponsorships – Helping businesses, civic groups, and organizations invest directly in local schools and students.

    • School & District Sponsorship Programs (beginning Winter 2027) – Providing opportunities for donors and organizations to sponsor schools or districts in reducing lunch debt.

    • Community Outreach Initiatives (planned expansion) – Developing programs that connect families with food resources, meal support, and community events as the organization grows.

    • Fundraising & Giving Programs – Offering one-time, recurring, workplace, and community giving opportunities to support our mission.

  • The Open Lunch Project (OLP) recognizes Virginia’s progress in expanding access to school meals beyond the student to the family. The distinction between OLP and the National School Lunch Program is one of scope: while the NSLP focuses on access to subsidized school meals, the OLP looks at the broader food ecosystem—what children eat, what happens when school is out, and whether families have enough food at home. Our vision is a Virginia where nutritious food is accessible to children, families, and communities every day.

  • Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or send us direct emails—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way. Whether you are a community vendor able to offer support through our contacts or a parent curious about our resources for your student, our Board will personally support you.

  • You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within 1-3 business days.

Meet our Board Members

  • Yael.

    CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR

    A visionary committed to ensuring students have access to food security and stronger community resources. He brings extensive experience across the food and beverage industry, hospitality, operations, and startups, but saw a critical gap and turned his passion into action. Having been part of seven startups over the past six years, he is now bringing that experience and mission-driven focus to his eighth venture with The OLP.

  • Mia.

    CO-FOUNDER, TREASURER & SECRETARY

    Focused, approachable, and driven by results, Mia Brandon was named an ‘Influential Woman’ for her work in branding, marketing, and talent in 2026. She brings a background in global executive search, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, and fintech SaaS with passions involving global connection, increasing accessibility in food security, and equity. Mia is based in Germany, is bilingual with English and German, and has a Masters from Georgetown University.

  • Mae.

    BOARD MEMBER

    Mae brings investment, public-health, and philanthropy leadership to The Open Lunch Project. Experience includes sustainability policy and health-impact analysis for multibillion-dollar U.S. and London hedge funds, plus global-health engagement as a two-time H20 Summit signatory. Food-bank volunteering to support after-school meals, begun at age 10, shaped an enduring belief that every child deserves fresh, nourishing food without stigma, debt, or financial strain.

  • Alta.

    BOARD MEMBER

    Alta Vargas Luciano is a Senior Strategic Manager with an MBA and over a decade of combined experience in SaaS, real estate, and nonprofit strategy. She has partnered with financial institutions and nonprofits on growth, onboarding, and fundraising initiatives, and holds real estate licenses in NY and FL. She values community impact and service.

  • Matthew.

    BOARD MEMBER

    Dr. Matthew Parish is an international lawyer, scholar, nonprofit leader, and attorney admitted to practice in New York with more than two decades in legal strategy, governance, international affairs, and institutional development. Matthew provides pro bono legal and strategic guidance to The OLP, helping strengthen the organization’s governance and long-term development.

  • Sarah.

    BOARD MEMBER

    Dr. Sarah Stallings has been an educator for 22 years. She teaches high school English and had the pleasure of teaching both Yael and Mia when they were freshmen in high school. She has a doctorate in education and additionally teaches masters education classes for a Virginia-based university.

  • Elizabeth.

    BOARD MEMBER

    Elizabeth Masencup Wodicka brings more than 14 years of experience in education, leadership, and student advocacy to The Open Lunch Project’s Board of Directors. Throughout her career, she has served as a social studies teacher, Athletic Director, substitute teacher, and Homebound Instructor. Elizabeth is passionate about supporting students and removing barriers to their success.

  • Tremayne.

    ADVISOR

    Tremayne serves as an Advisor to The Open Lunch Project, bringing 13 years in fundraising and strategic partnerships for mission-driven organizations. At Community Justice, he helps communities address the conditions behind inequity—food access among them—by building the partnerships and donor relationships that resource locally-led solutions. That throughline runs deep: he helped open a grocery co-op in a food desert and, as former Director of Operations at Byrd Barr Place, oversaw a food bank serving thousands of families a year.

  • Julia.

    SPECIAL ADVISOR, PROGRAMMING

    Julia Straka is a communications professional with 4+ years of experience and a journalism graduate from the University of Richmond. She spent 2 years writing lifestyle and real estate content at Homes.com after cutting her teeth on digital marketing, social media, and public relations at a boutique branding agency and in-house at a menswear label.

  • Brandon.

    SPECIAL ADVISOR, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

    Brandon Williams is a J.D. candidate at the University of Richmond School of Law. As an undergraduate, he co-founded an education-based technology startup and served on a student-led task force that helped pass S.B. 387 (2024) in the General Assembly, gaining first-hand experience in bringing new ideas to life. A former NCAA Division I football player, he is excited to bring his diverse background and passion for education to the Open Lunch Project.