Tell Congress to improve children’s access to high-quality, nutritious
foods in upcoming bills!
[ [link removed] ]Take Action Now
[ [link removed] ]TAKE ACTION
Dear Friend,
What would you do if you were given the chance to dramatically reduce the
number of hungry children in the U.S.? Over the next few months, members
of Congress will have this very chance -- let’s make sure that they take
full advantage of this opportunity to strengthen and improve child
nutrition programs, just like we would!
[ [link removed] ] → Urge Congress to invest in the health of our children by
strengthening child nutrition and school meal programs!
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of families struggling to
put food on the table has skyrocketed. A staggering 1 out of every 6
children in America now do not have enough food to eat. [1] Many moms
know first hand how difficult it is for children to learn when they are
hungry; we find the rise in childhood hunger rates unacceptable! The
upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill and economic recovery
legislation present Congress with just the right opportunity to address
this urgent crisis and ensure that all children have access to healthy
food.
[ [link removed] ] Tell Congress that there has never been a more urgent time than NOW to
strengthen the child nutrition and school meal programs that are
desperately needed for hungry children!
What would be the biggest bang for our buck that would help the most kids
get the nutrition they need? The most effective action that Congress can
take to improve children’s health and education is to allow all schools to
provide school meals to all children at no charge - otherwise known as
providing universal free school meals. Schools have been allowed to do
this throughout the pandemic, illustrating how this approach works to
significantly decrease childhood hunger. Healthy school meals for all
students would ensure that all children, including students who do not
qualify for free or reduced price school meals but whose families are
still struggling, would receive at least two healthy meals a day. This
action would allow schools to put their energy into providing healthy,
nutritious, and delicious meals instead of getting bogged down in
administrative work, such as processing applications. Perhaps most
importantly, universal school meals would eliminate both the stigma of
participating in school meals and the lunch shaming that occurs when
children cannot pay their school meals debt. [2] Free school breakfast
and lunch for all would eliminate the common barriers to access described
by one mom, Liz:
The biggest thing that I’ve noticed in my sons’ school in rural NC is that
we’re only at about 12% usage of free or reduced-lunch. There are many
families in our school that would probably benefit from free or
reduced-lunch that just don’t apply for it. They either don’t realize that
they would actually qualify, or they don’t apply because of pride.
[ [link removed] ]Tell Congress: Take meaningful action to improve children’s health by
allowing all schools to provide school meals to all children at no
charge!
Along with universal school meals, the Child Nutrition Act has the
potential to tackle hunger for millions of moms and kids around the
country through programs from The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to healthy meals and snacks for
kids in child care. MomsRising is calling on Congress to:
* Increase access to afterschool and summer nutrition programs and
expand the benefits provided to children through these programs;
* Build on the success of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer
(P-EBT) program by providing summer EBT benefits to eligible
schoolchildren;
* Allow an afternoon snack or supper for children in child care, through
the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP);
* Increase the number of high-poverty schools that are able to offer
free school meals to all students by expanding community eligibility;
and
* Increase access to WIC for pregnant and postpartum mothers, infants,
and young children. [3]
NOTE: many of these recommendations will not be needed if Congress
provides universal school meals for all children, which is our top
recommendation!
[ [link removed] ]Sign our letter and say “The time is NOW for Congress to fully invest
in child nutrition and school meal programs in the upcoming
reauthorization process.”
Many moms know first hand how difficult it is for children to learn when
they are hungry; we want Congress to address childhood hunger in a
meaningful way! After you sign our letter forward this email to your
friends and family so they can take action as well.
[ [link removed] ]JOIN US in calling on Congress to take swift action to end childhood
hunger!
Together we are a powerful voice for children and families!
-Jessica, Hanna, Elyssa and the whole MomsRising team
[ [link removed] ]P.S. Your experiences are powerful. Would you be willing to share your
story about how universal free school meals would help your family? If so,
please click here, and thank you!
References:
[1] [ [link removed] ]Feeding America: Child Hunger Facts
[2] [ [link removed] ]FRAC supports bill that would provide healthy school meals for all,
reduce childhood hunger
[3] [ [link removed] ]FRAC: Priorities to Improve and Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs
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