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Photo: Connecticut students met with CT Governor Ned Lamont to thank him for signing no-cost school meals into law for the duration of the 2023 school year on Wednesday, February 22. They also presented the governor with handwritten notes and signs of thanks from students across the state sharing why school meals for all is important to them.
The Honorable Governor Ned Lamont,
State of Connecticut
Dear Governor Lamont,
As a coalition of organizations representing Connecticut’s schools, students, families, physicians, farmers, and businesses, we thank you for supporting healthy school breakfasts for all and giving students who are eligible for reduced-priced meals to get them at no cost. These two actions have a huge impact on our schools, allowing students and teachers the ability to learn and teach without the complications that a hungry child brings.
We ask that you support the program’s continued funding at $16 million for the State Department of Education through the 2024-25 school year.
Hungry kids don’t learn. All the research supports this statement. Also, children who are hungry are not fully prepared to learn, and often create disruptions in the classroom. Research shows us when meals are offered at no cost at school to everyone, there is less absenteeism, less bullying, and kids are more prepared to learn. Even students who eat something at home and get a school breakfast perform better on tests. There’s a reason that schools offer breakfast to their students during testing days.
“We tell our students to make sure they eat a healthy breakfast in the morning so they can do the best they can while they are in school and yet our students are struggling with lack of access to food at home. Not eating can manifest itself in students having headaches, feeling lethargic and irritable and having difficulty focusing in class.” — High School Nurse Supervisor
School meals are the basis on which success is built. Buses, textbooks, computers, and other enhancements that activate young minds have their impact lessened when the students are hungry. Additionally, school meals are often healthier than meals brought from home. But, more importantly, for many families, the ease of mind and ability of a child to eat without creating a debt is massive.
It’s important to note that in Connecticut, a family can earn no more than $55,500 annual gross income to receive meals at no cost. However, according to the Connecticut United Ways, that same family’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Household Survival Budget was $106,632 in 2021, leaving a large gap in the ability to pay for necessities. 80% of Connecticut towns have at least 1 in 5 households that are ALICE; offering them school meals for all is one tool that assists these households economically and eases a family’s stress.
“We know students across the state are struggling. The data in Connecticut is consistent: one in five children is not confident about their next meal. This legislation transforms childhood experiences and allows for all students to have one less thing to worry about.” — Education Advocate
While school meals for all help our students, school, and families, they are a driver in the economic success of our local businesses, especially farmers. When school food services can count on income for the meals, they are able to buy more locally produced foods. Again, school meals not only help economically with our local farms and businesses, but with the overall health of our children by providing healthier options.
“Farmers in this state can provide more to our own citizens if given the opportunity. Direct sales to schools and other institutions provides safe, healthy local food and support our state economy in a virtuous cycle. I hope you can continue and expand this system.” — Chip Beckett, Beckett Farms, Glastonbury
It’s clear that school meals for all helps our students, our teachers, our parents and families, farmers, and local businesses succeed. Additionally, continuing meals for all students partners naturally with CSDE’s newly announced School Is Better with You campaign to enhance attendance in our schools.
The organizations below recognize the need for school breakfast and offer meals at no cost to those eligible for reduced-priced meals. We urge you to help our schools and our students by funding the continuation of the current program in the SFY 2024/25 budget.
Sincerely,
ACLU-CT
Brigaid
Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)
Cathedral of Higher Praise
Center for Food Equity and Economic Development
Charter Oak Communities
Cold Spring Farm
Collaborative Center for Justice
Common Ground Charter High School, Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center
Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE)
Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Connecticut Alliance for Basic Human Needs (CABHN)
Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Connecticut Food System Alliance
Connecticut Foodshare
Connecticut Legal Services
Connecticut Office of Agudath Israel
Connecticut Oral Health Initiative
Coventry/Andover School Foodservice
Cromwell High School
Cromwell Public Schools
CT Alliance of YMCAs
CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Danbury Farmers Market Community Collaborative
Danbury Hydroponics D.B.A. Joon Gardens
Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, Inc. (DESK)
Easton’s Here to Help
Ellington Farmers Market
End Hunger Connecticut!
Fair Haven Community Health Care
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
Filling In The Blanks
Food Rescue US
Food Research & Action Center
FoodCorps
Foodshed Network
Fridgeport
Good Trouble Advocates and BLM860
Greater Hartford Legal Aid
Green Village Initiative
Greenwich Community Gardens
Greenwich United Way
Guilford Public Schools
Handel Family Farm
Healing By Growing Farms
Health Equity Solutions
High Ridge Hydroponics LLC
HOPE Family Justice Center BHcare
Indivisible Stamford
Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services
Keys To The Gate
Loaves and Fishes New Haven
Neighbor to Neighbor
New Britain ROOTS
New London Public Schools
Nonprofit Accountability Group
North Branford Schools
Northwest Corner Farm
Positive Vibes Plant Lounge LLC
Region 16 Public Schools
Region 9
Regional District 13
School Nutrition Association of Connecticut
She Leads Justice
Stamford Food Collaborative
Stonington Public Schools
Tabernacle of Grace Church
The Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers Inc.
The Foodshed Network
The National Conference for Community and Justice
Thy Neighbors Farm
Torrington Public Schools
Unite Us
United Way of Central and Northeastern CT
United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut
United Way of Connecticut
United Way of Greater New Haven
United Way of Naugatuck & Beacon Falls
United Way of Southeastern Connecticut
Valley United Way, Inc.
Watertown Food Services
Witnesses To Hunger NH
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.
