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Senators, Representatives, and Coalition members urge Governor Lamont to include funding for school meals in his upcoming budget.
[Hartford] State senators, state representatives, and members of the School Meal for All CT coalition gathered at the legislative office building today to call for continued funding for school meals. Last session, the legislature and Governor appropriated $16 million for schools to serve breakfast to their students and for all students who qualify for reduced-price meals to receive them at no cost. Eighty-four organizations signed a letter to Governor Lamont requesting his continued support for the program in the FY 2024 budget.
“Our schools have a mission that exceeds academic progress – they must foster a sense of well-being and security in students. Making sure children receive the nutrition and care they need is vital,” said Senate President Martin Looney. “I will work with my colleagues and continue to find ways to support this important cause.”
“After working in school health and parenting 5 children, I can share firsthand the effect hunger can have on a child. Hunger causes fatigue and an inability to focus. It can alter mood and behavior,” said Heather Miller, school nurse consultant. “Every school nurse from every community can share stories of children who come to the health office each day, not due to sickness, but due to hunger. “
“In the Children’s Committee my colleagues and I know how important proper nutrition is for children. Children cannot learn when they are hungry. As you heard from the people speaking today, the programs in our schools this year, with the support of the Governor, are providing food for countless students to begin their day right,” said State Senator Ceci Maher. “I look forward to continuing these efforts this legislative session to benefit every child in Connecticut.”
“Here in Connecticut, we will always make the education of our children a top priority. Ensuring every student is provided nutritious meals should be paramount to that commitment,” said State Rep. Moira Rader (98th District – Guilford, Branford). “We are fortunate to have widespread support to continue funding of the universal free breakfast and reduced / free lunch program implemented last year. By investing in our students’ health and well-being, we are investing in their ultimate success as learners. “
“From a public health perspective, school meals are a vital service for the children of our state,” said State Senator Saud Anwar. “They offer important nutrition important for children’s development and our efforts in recent years to expand their availability can have incredible long-term benefits for the students of our state. I will work with my colleagues to continue to support these policies and find ways to continue and expand these important programs.”
“It is extremely important for us to provide funding for school children to eat breakfast and lunch, we are not just filling their stomachs, but also their potential,” urged State Rep. Anthony Nolan (39th District – New London). “Let’s ensure every child has the nourishment they need to concentrate on learning, not on hunger pains.”
Legislators, led by State Rep Gary Turco (27th District – Newington and New Britain) and State Rep. Moira Rader (98th District – Guilford and Branford), are gathering sponsors on a bill to continue funding the program. Students, school employees, and parents in the audience today, along with many advocates who worked to pass the legislation last session were in full and enthusiastic agreement in urging Governor Lamont to continue supporting the meals.
“We’ve heard directly from teachers that when no-cost school meals are offered to all students, performance is better in the classroom,” said Turco. “Ensuring all children have a nutritious meal is an investment in our children and our educational system, just like a book or classroom supplies.”
State Representative Rachel Khanna (149 District – Greenwich and Stamford) said, “We can spend all we want on the most up-to-date textbooks, computers, field trips and other enhancements but they’re worth nothing when kids are hungry. Funding so all our kids can eat healthy school breakfasts and making sure students who are eligible for reduced-priced meals can get them at no cost are two actions that will have a huge impact because hungry kids don’t learn.”
Ashley Carl, representing Connecticut’s School Food Service Directors, said, “The School Nutrition Association of CT would like to remind you how basic school essentials, including Chromebook, transportation, and textbooks, are provided to students regardless of income, yet nutritious meals at no charge is a basic essential that research has proven to decrease absenteeism and bullying, while increasing students preparedness to learn but is not included free of charge.”
Having recently unveiled the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) report, Isabel Almeida, CEO of the United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut, commented, “ There is a high degree of unseen financial hardship in the state and no-cost school meals provides tangible, financial relief to ALICE households who (even in the perceived-wealthy towns in Fairfield County) struggle to make ends meet and put adequate food on the table.”
School meals for all also helps families who are under increased stress. “It’s time that CT takes school meals off the shoulders of working parents trying to get their children out the door, and onto these student’s plates, literally, to strengthen our school’s environment for learning success!” echoed State Rep. Anne Hughes (135th District – Easton, Redding, and Weston).
About us: End Hunger CT! works statewide to eliminate hunger and promote healthy nutrition through outreach, public education, and advocacy. EHC! offers SNAP assistance, nutrition program promotion, doubles SNAP at farmers’ markets, and more to help CT residents in need. To learn more about our services, click here.
Have any questions? Contact our Communications Coordinator, Kimberly Nguyen, at knguyen@endhungerct.org.
