|
|
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!
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.
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.
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:
NOTE: many of these recommendations will not be needed if Congress provides universal school meals for all children, which is our top recommendation!
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.
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
References:
[1] Feeding America: Child Hunger Facts
[2] FRAC supports bill that would provide healthy school meals for all, reduce childhood hunger
[3] FRAC: Priorities to Improve and Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs
Register to vote! / ¡Regístrese para votar!
Join our Spanish language community, MamásConPoder.org
What should MomsRising tackle next? Tell us!
You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.