Dear John,
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Tell your Representative: Support legislation that feeds hungry children during the coronavirus pandemic.
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With widespread unemployment, economic hardship, and limited resources at food banks --millions of children across the country are facing food insecurity. Black, Indigenous, and other people of color’s households report twice the food insecurity as white households. No child deserves to be hungry.
A powerful tool to prevent child hunger is school meal programs. John, will you help feed hungry children by asking your Representative to take action?
Demand your Representative support the Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act. No child should go hungry.
Whether schools open in-person or opt for remote learning, families will still rely on school meal programs. Access to healthy, nutritious food for all students is crucial to making learning possible in the fall. But school meal programs are struggling financially. Some large districts are in millions of dollars of debt. Providing funding for schools to offer universally free meals to students is critical to making school meal programs financially viable for this fall. Plus, it’s the best way to make sure every child can eat.
The proposed legislation would ensure that all students are eligible for free meals during the 2020-2021 school year. Students would no longer be required to verify eligibility for the program and wouldn’t be turned away due to unpaid meal balances. Instead, all students would qualify for two free meals at school each day.
With 35 percent of households now facing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the child hunger crisis is soaring. School food programs will help provide equitable access to daily meals during these uncertain times.
Tell Congress: All students need access to healthy food daily.
With the economic downturn, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of students who will rely on school meals. For many, the meals they receive at school may be the only nutritious meals they eat that day.
Research has proven time and time again that healthy meals help students be prepared and stay focused while they learn. Student behavior and performance has been shown to have significant improvement with sufficient meal programs.
We cannot forget about hungry students as we push forward with their education amidst a global pandemic. No child should have to learn on an empty stomach, let alone face each day with food insecurity. Will you join us and ask your Representative to help eliminate child hunger?
Use your voice: Help children receive the food they desperately need to be successful.
Standing with you,
Chloë Waterman,
Climate-friendly food campaign program manager,
Friends of the Earth
