‘It’s hard to focus’: Schools say American kids are hungry
1 year, 9 months ago

‘It’s hard to focus’: Schools say American kids are hungry

LA Times  

Students select their meal during lunch break in the cafeteria at V. H. Lassen Academy of Science and Nutrition in Phoenix on Jan. 31. School cafeterias typically don’t turn away a hungry kid, but debts for unpaid school meals have been rising — showing the level of need, and raising questions about how schools will keep feeding everyone, without federal money to do it. The neediest kids are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as before the pandemic, but qualifying for those benefits requires applications that haven’t been necessary for several years. “Programs that provide direct food assistance are hugely critical and we are going to see the effects of not having them over the next couple of months,” said Megan Curran, policy director for Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy. In the last academic year, with nearly all schools back operating in person, the number of school meals served to students jumped dramatically, and was slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to a report Thursday from the Food Research & Action Center.

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History of this topic

T’gana: Panel cites low payment for ‘poor’ mid-day meal
3 weeks, 2 days ago

T’gana: Panel cites low payment for ‘poor’ mid-day meal

Hindustan Times  

Hyderabad The Telangana government, which has substantially enhanced the mess charges being paid to students of residential schools and welfare hostels by 40% since November 1 resulting in improved diet for them, has started taking measures to improve the quality of food being provided to students under the mid-day meal scheme in the state-run schools across the state, officials familiar …

How School Lunch Became A Symbol Of Tim Walz's Appeal To Voters
4 months, 2 weeks ago

How School Lunch Became A Symbol Of Tim Walz's Appeal To Voters

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Making school meals free for all students in Minnesota is one of Tim Walz’s signature achievements as governor. A voter survey published Wednesday by the Democratic polling firm Blueprint found free school lunch “is the only one of Walz’s most popular accomplishments surveyed that more than 40% of voters have heard about.” And it’s a major reason …

Breakfast and lunch programs in schools are helping families battling the cost of living
7 months, 1 week ago

Breakfast and lunch programs in schools are helping families battling the cost of living

ABC  

In a warehouse next to Adelaide Airport, four retired men are scurrying like ants. "It sort of introduces you to another world," said former Adelaide Crows football manager and volunteer John Reid. "When I come into the breakfast club all my worries go away because I've got people to talk to," she said. "Everyone right now is struggling with inflation, …

Minnesota program to provide free school meals for all kids is costing the state more than expected
1 year ago

Minnesota program to provide free school meals for all kids is costing the state more than expected

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota’s program to provide free school breakfasts and lunches to all students regardless of income is costing the state more than expected because of a jump in demand. Tim Walz signed the legislation last spring, advocates said the free meals would ease stresses on parents and help reduce childhood poverty while lifting the stigma on kids …

Schools providing ‘fourth emergency service’ feeding families in need – study
1 year, 1 month ago

Schools providing ‘fourth emergency service’ feeding families in need – study

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The spread of charitable food …

More students gain eligibility for free school meals under expanded US program
1 year, 3 months ago

More students gain eligibility for free school meals under expanded US program

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Millions of additional students in schools serving low-income communities will be eligible to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost under a rule change announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At schools where 25% of families participate in income-based public benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, the federal government now will cover the cost …

One in four teachers hands out food to children due to welfare concerns – survey
1 year, 4 months ago

One in four teachers hands out food to children due to welfare concerns – survey

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. FareShare, a charity which tackles hunger and food waste, is calling on the Government …

Schoolkids in 8 states can now eat free school meals, advocates urge Congress for nationwide policy
1 year, 4 months ago

Schoolkids in 8 states can now eat free school meals, advocates urge Congress for nationwide policy

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — When classes resume after Labor Day, Amber Lightfeather won’t have to worry about where her children’s next meals will be coming from. Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado, Vermont, Michigan, and Massachusetts will make school breakfasts and lunches permanently free to all students starting this academic year, regardless of family income, following in the footsteps of California and …

Massachusetts joins a small but growing number of states adopting universal free school meals
1 year, 4 months ago

Massachusetts joins a small but growing number of states adopting universal free school meals

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Massachusetts has joined a small but growing number of states adopting universal free school meals programs. About $172 million in permanent funding is also included in the budget to provide universal school meals for public school students in kindergarten through high school. Healey called the school lunch program “an investment in childhood nutrition that’s also removing a source …

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Vermont schools say there should be for kids
1 year, 9 months ago

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Vermont schools say there should be for kids

NPR  

There's no such thing as a free lunch. toggle caption Ximena Bustillo/NPR "Schools are struggling to get kids certified for free or reduced-price school meals," FitzSimons said. Sponsor Message For the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, a family of four cannot make more than $55,500 a year for reduced-price meals or $39,000 for free meals, according to the federal standards. A …

Free school lunch works — but rightwingers don’t care about outcomes
1 year, 9 months ago

Free school lunch works — but rightwingers don’t care about outcomes

Raw Story  

“If a child is on the verge of starvation, you must call CPS, not spend hundreds of millions on disproportionately unhealthy lunches, a huge percentage of which are discarded,” conservative pundit Ben Shapiro told California Congressman Ted Lieu on Twitter. There’s a great deal of evidence that free school lunches reduce student hunger and improve children’s health. School lunches have …

Food for thought: Free meals for all New Mexico students
1 year, 9 months ago

Food for thought: Free meals for all New Mexico students

Associated Press  

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday signed legislation to provide free school meals to all students regardless of family income, as New Mexico and several other states look to fill the gap left by lapsed federal pandemic-era benefit programs and address the strain to family budgets caused by food prices. About 67% — or 309,000 New Mexico …

“Poverty is a policy choice”: Minnesota kids cheer new law guaranteeing free school lunch for all
1 year, 9 months ago

“Poverty is a policy choice”: Minnesota kids cheer new law guaranteeing free school lunch for all

Salon  

This article originally appeared at Common Dreams. But 1 in 4 food-insecure kids live in households that don't qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program, leading to "mounting school lunch debts in the tens of thousands of dollars," Minnesota Public Radioreported. "As a former teacher, I know that providing free breakfast and lunch for our students is one …

Minnesota Senate backs free school meals for all students
1 year, 9 months ago

Minnesota Senate backs free school meals for all students

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Lunches and breakfasts would be free to Minnesota students regardless of income under a bill that won approval in the state Senate on Tuesday. “Being hungry makes learning almost impossible,” said Democratic Sen. Heather Gustafson, of Vadnais Heights, the lead author, who is also a teacher. “This is a bill that will ensure every student, K …

‘It’s hard to focus': Schools say American kids are hungry
1 year, 9 months ago

‘It’s hard to focus': Schools say American kids are hungry

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — America’s schools say kids are hungry — just as pandemic-era benefit programs have lapsed. School cafeterias typically don’t turn away a hungry kid, but debts for unpaid school meals have been rising — showing the level of need, and raising questions about how schools will keep feeding everyone, without federal money to do it. The neediest kids are …

School meals ‘should be free for all pupils just like desks and chairs’
1 year, 10 months ago

School meals ‘should be free for all pupils just like desks and chairs’

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy All children …

Proposed changes to school lunches aim to reduce sugar and sodium, but flavored milk stays
1 year, 11 months ago

Proposed changes to school lunches aim to reduce sugar and sodium, but flavored milk stays

CNN  

CNN — If new US Department of Agriculture school food guidelines stand as proposed, chocolate milk is in, but for the first time ever, at least some added sugars will be out – and sodium levels will be reduced gradually. Vilsack said school meal administrators tell the USDA that kids just won’t drink much no-fat skim milk or unflavored milk. …

No more nuggets? School lunch goes farm-to-table — for some
1 year, 11 months ago

No more nuggets? School lunch goes farm-to-table — for some

Associated Press  

CONCORD, Calif. — As the fine-dining chef at a suburban high school gave samples of his newest recipes, junior Anahi Nava Flores critiqued a baguette sandwich with Toscano salami, organic Monterey Jack, arugula and a scratch-made basil spread: “This pesto aioli is good!” Classmate Kentaro Turner devoured a deli-style pastrami melt on sourdough and moved on to free-range chicken simmered …

No more nuggets? School lunch goes farm-to-table — for some
1 year, 11 months ago

No more nuggets? School lunch goes farm-to-table — for some

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Financially, we are dying right now,” said Patti Bilbrey, …

New Mexico governor wants free lunch for all students K-12
2 years, 1 month ago

New Mexico governor wants free lunch for all students K-12

Associated Press  

SANTA FE, N.M. — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants New Mexico to help provide school lunches without charge to all K-12 students across the state. Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett confirmed Tuesday that the governor will pursue legislation when lawmakers meet in January 2023 to ensure that every student has access to free and nutritious school meals by covering …

Children unable to afford lunch in more than half of state schools, survey says
2 years, 1 month ago

Children unable to afford lunch in more than half of state schools, survey says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s a scandal that in …

‘Generosity and dedication’: Low-earning school staff buying food for hungry pupils
2 years, 1 month ago

‘Generosity and dedication’: Low-earning school staff buying food for hungry pupils

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Its findings come as The Independent’s …

Henry Dimbleby: We have children breaking down and crying because of hunger
2 years, 2 months ago

Henry Dimbleby: We have children breaking down and crying because of hunger

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s hard to perform academically or …

Experts warn of major impact on children’s health without proper nutrition at school
2 years, 2 months ago

Experts warn of major impact on children’s health without proper nutrition at school

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. To make change happen, please sign the petition by clicking …

Number of children arriving at school hungry on the rise, teachers warn
2 years, 2 months ago

Number of children arriving at school hungry on the rise, teachers warn

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The number of children arriving at school hungry has risen …

Health chief calls for free school meals for all to end ‘disturbing’ food poverty
2 years, 2 months ago

Health chief calls for free school meals for all to end ‘disturbing’ food poverty

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government must offer all children free school meals to address …

It shouldn’t be left to chefs like me to feed hungry children
2 years, 2 months ago

It shouldn’t be left to chefs like me to feed hungry children

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy During the …

‘It’s too expensive to eat lunch and feed my children’: The rise of the school food bank
2 years, 2 months ago

‘It’s too expensive to eat lunch and feed my children’: The rise of the school food bank

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The food bank helps me get by.” Behind her stands Maryam, 38, also a …

Hunger advocates want free school meals for all kids. It's tough sell in Congress
2 years, 4 months ago

Hunger advocates want free school meals for all kids. It's tough sell in Congress

NPR  

Hunger advocates want free school meals for all kids. It's tough sell in Congress Enlarge this image toggle caption Morgan Lee/AP Morgan Lee/AP When the government made school meals temporarily free to virtually all public school students in 2020, the intent was to buffer children and families from the spike in hunger and economic hardship caused by the pandemic. States …

Dinner lady forced to deny children school food because ‘there’s no money’
2 years, 4 months ago

Dinner lady forced to deny children school food because ‘there’s no money’

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

The U.S. diet is deadly. Here are 7 ideas to get Americans eating healthier
2 years, 4 months ago

The U.S. diet is deadly. Here are 7 ideas to get Americans eating healthier

NPR  

The U.S. diet is deadly. Treat food as medicine There's a growing movement to integrate food and nutrition into health care, by providing healthy meals and groceries to patients to help prevent or manage diet-related illness.The task force wants to see this kind of work expand. "Produce prescription programs help improve diet quality and food security," says task force member …

As students go back to school, many face a lunch bill for the first time in 2 years
2 years, 4 months ago

As students go back to school, many face a lunch bill for the first time in 2 years

NPR  

As students go back to school, many face a lunch bill for the first time in 2 years Enlarge this image toggle caption Lisa Rathke/AP Lisa Rathke/AP BOISE, Idaho — Lunchtime on the first day of school at Mountain View Elementary earlier this month brought the familiar bustle of students scurrying to find their assigned table in the cafeteria while …

Proposal for student cards to cover free meals fails in California Legislature
2 years, 4 months ago

Proposal for student cards to cover free meals fails in California Legislature

LA Times  

A bill that would have granted eligible California school children an EBT card to cover meals in the summer quietly failed in the state Legislature last week. A bill that would have granted electronic benefit transfer cards to low-income schoolchildren to cover meals when class is not in session quietly failed last week in the state Legislature. Food banks across …

The 'Missing Middle': How To Feed America's Neglected Kids At School
2 years, 4 months ago

The 'Missing Middle': How To Feed America's Neglected Kids At School

Huff Post  

HuffPost In this edition of Voices In Food, Vermont state Sen. Brian Campion shares how he helped guarantee that his state’s schoolchildren all have access to local, fresh foods for the 2022-23 school year through a one-year pilot project meant to extend the federal government’s COVID-relief programs. It’s an economic development bill, too.” - Vermont state Sen. Brian Campion And …

Families ‘face grim choices’ as summer holidays mean weeks without free school meals
2 years, 5 months ago

Families ‘face grim choices’ as summer holidays mean weeks without free school meals

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, …

Families brace for changes to pandemic-era free school meals
2 years, 6 months ago

Families brace for changes to pandemic-era free school meals

Associated Press  

ESSEX, Vt. — Before the pandemic, there was no room in the budget for Kate Murphy’s children to buy lunch at school. So the free school meals that were made available to students nationwide amid the crisis have brought welcome relief, especially since her husband lost his job last year at a bakery company that closed. The pandemic-era federal aid …

Congress approves free student meal extension through summer
2 years, 6 months ago

Congress approves free student meal extension through summer

Associated Press  

Congress passed a bill Friday that aims to keep up the expanded, pandemic-era distribution of free meals for all students this summer. “Our action today staves off a dangerous hunger cliff: ensuring universal free meals for all children throughout this summer, while helping schools keep up supply chain snags and rising costs for the upcoming school year,” House Speaker Nancy …

Biden signs the school meal waivers bill into law, but free meals are over for many
2 years, 6 months ago

Biden signs the school meal waivers bill into law, but free meals are over for many

NPR  

Biden signs the school meal waivers bill into law, but free meals are over for many Enlarge this image toggle caption Damian Dovarganes/AP Damian Dovarganes/AP President Joe Biden signed the Keep Kids Fed Act on Saturday morning, extending partial school meal flexibilities through the next school year five days before they were set to expire. The House on Friday morning …

Congress Has Just Days To Extend A Crucial School Summer Lunch Program
2 years, 6 months ago

Congress Has Just Days To Extend A Crucial School Summer Lunch Program

Huff Post  

Congress is rushing to ensure a federal food program meant to keep low-income children fed in the months school is out does not become harder to access. Michael Loccisano via Getty Images A federal program meant to ensure low-income kids are still fed in the summer when school lunches aren’t available is set to be hobbled after June 30. Without …

Sadiq Khan backs universal free school meals for primary school pupils
2 years, 6 months ago

Sadiq Khan backs universal free school meals for primary school pupils

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sadiq Khan has …

The Impending School Lunch Disaster
2 years, 9 months ago

The Impending School Lunch Disaster

Slate  

There’s a vast, underappreciated supply chain that provides for your kids’ school lunches. Helena Bottemiller Evich, a senior food and agriculture reporter at Politico, says that school administrations are “really upset” about these lunch adjustments expiring, and everyone’s unsure of what to do next. Mary Harris: Before the pandemic, I remember hearing all these stories about school lunch debt—kids who …

Millions of children will miss healthy school meals when pandemic relief expires
2 years, 9 months ago

Millions of children will miss healthy school meals when pandemic relief expires

NPR  

Millions of children will miss healthy school meals when pandemic relief expires Enlarge this image toggle caption Karen Ducey/Getty Images Karen Ducey/Getty Images When schools pivoted to virtual learning early in the pandemic, the National School Lunch Program was thrown into chaos. And as part of pandemic relief legislation, the federal Food and Nutrition services agency waived the requirement that …

'This is evil': Critics angry Mitch McConnell is blocking the extension of free school lunch waivers
2 years, 10 months ago

'This is evil': Critics angry Mitch McConnell is blocking the extension of free school lunch waivers

Raw Story  

Federal waivers that have given U.S. schools the flexibility to offer universal free lunches throughout the pandemic are at risk of ending as Senate Republicans—led by Mitch McConnell—stonewall a proposed extension of the relief measures, potentially depriving millions of children of no-cost meals in the coming months. Politicoreported Monday that McConnell, the Senate minority leader, is "forcefully opposing" a provision …

Father’s post with photos of his son’s ‘ridiculous’ school meals goes viral
2 years, 11 months ago

Father’s post with photos of his son’s ‘ridiculous’ school meals goes viral

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Don’t come at me with the ‘you get …

Free school meals for all children can improve kids’ health
3 years, 5 months ago

Free school meals for all children can improve kids’ health

Salon  

Recognizing that millions of U.S. children are at risk of hunger, Maine and California have approved funding to offer free school meals to all students within their state. The Universal School Meals Program Act would provide free healthy meals and snacks to all children in public and nonprofit private schools regardless of income. When children return to schools in the …

California launches largest free school lunch program in U.S.
3 years, 5 months ago

California launches largest free school lunch program in U.S.

LA Times  

When classrooms in California reopen for the fall term, all 6.2 million public school students will have the option to eat school meals for free, regardless of their family’s income. It’s beyond life-changing,” said Erin Primer, director of food services for the San Luis Coastal Unified School District on California’s Central Coast. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the state’s …

California launches largest free school lunch program in US
3 years, 5 months ago

California launches largest free school lunch program in US

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — When classrooms in California reopen for the fall term, all 6.2 million public school students will have the option to eat school meals for free, regardless of their family’s income. It’s beyond life-changing,” said Erin Primer, director of food services for the San Luis Coastal Unified School District on California’s central coast. The Los Angeles Unified School …

Matt Hancock unable to say if he regrets voting against free school meals after now welcoming them, in uncomfortable interview
3 years, 11 months ago

Matt Hancock unable to say if he regrets voting against free school meals after now welcoming them, in uncomfortable interview

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Matt Hancock told the show’s co-hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that he was “really …

Hungry children didn’t drive this country into the ground – they deserve so much better than the meagre food parcels offered by our government
3 years, 11 months ago

Hungry children didn’t drive this country into the ground – they deserve so much better than the meagre food parcels offered by our government

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Midday assistants on furlough or poverty …

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