March 28, 2024

School Meals for All

An Act Relative to Universal School Meals (HD766 / SD1013)

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By Ensuring All Students Have Access to School Meals At No Cost, More Children Could Receive The Nutrition They Need At School — Helping Them To Thrive.

Families with kids across Massachusetts are struggling to keep food on the table as inflation and food costs remain high. During this time of continued economic uncertainty, the School Meals for All program, has been a lifeline for families. It is because of School Meals for All that an additional 80,000 kids are eating lunch at school every day. But the State legislature is currently deciding whether to make the program permanent.

Currently, 1 in 5 households with children in Massachusetts face food insecurity.

Research shows when a child is well fed, they perform better in school, are at lower risk for obesity, and adjust to social situations better. Additionally, by making meal access universal, we help remove stigma around economic status and family situation—creating a more equitable and just educational environment.

School meals can account for over half of a child’s daily calories. These are children who might not otherwise have reliable access to healthy food at home.

This policy would allow every student who wants or needs a school breakfast or lunch to receive meals at no cost to their family. The cost would be covered by the existing National School Lunch Program federal reimbursement combined with a supplemental state reimbursement.

Over 1 in 4 food insecure children live in households that do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The high cost of living in Massachusetts leaves many families in a precarious state: they earn too much to receive federal assistance from programs such as SNAP, but too little to eat full and healthy diets.

Healthy school meals for all would ensure that at least school-aged children can rely on school meals.
Get Involved- please email Bristol County Senators Feeney, paul.feeney@masenate.gov  and Timilty, James.Timilty@masenate.gov  and Representative Howitt Steven.Howitt@mahouse.gov 

Show your support for their YES vote on this Bill. Otherwise, free meals for students will expire after June 2023.

Thank you- Lisa Sirois

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