John,

Every child deserves to eat. While the U.S. is the richest country in the world, 1 in 8 children who live here face hunger and food insecurity. The effects of child hunger are damaging and long lasting. Children have difficulty concentrating and retaining information when they’re hungry. Hunger may cause them to be more disruptive in class, which then leads to disciplinary action.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress approved funding for universal free school meals, and millions of children had access to nutritious breakfast and lunch. But that funding ended last June.

Congress left millions of families without help last year. In the richest country in the world the phrase “school lunch debt” should be an oxymoron. Join us in calling on Congress to fund universal school meals now.

Now, families must fill out a complicated series of forms to determine if they qualify. And as grocery prices rise, many families who do not qualify still cannot afford the food they need. Many children are again accumulating unpaid school lunch debt and the shaming that comes with it.

Universal school meals ensure that children are not going hungry and helps to end the stigma associated with carrying school lunch debt. Free school meals also reduce food insecurity among families, allowing them to spend money on other necessities like housing, transportation, and health care.

Some states have already funded universal free school meals; while this is admirable, a child’s access to quality meals shouldn’t be dependent on their zip code. We need action at the federal level to ensure that all children in every state and territory have access to free meals at school.

SIGN THE PETITION to demand Congress put children first and fund universal school meals.

President Biden has already signaled his support for universal free school meals legislation. Now it’s Congress’ turn to act.

Thank you for all you do in support of children and families,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs