Tell your legislators to make sure that every child can access healthy school meals!

In Michigan, 1 in 6 children are food insecure. When children face hunger, they are more likely to experience lower academic performance, behavioral issues, and physical and mental health challenges. As of 2021, nearly one in three young kids did not eat a fruit daily, and almost half didn’t eat a daily vegetable. Our children deserve meals that not only fill their stomachs but meet their nutritional needs.

Two critical programs in our state help address these issues by providing access to healthy meals for students:

School Meals for All: For the past three years, our state has provided free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of school district or income level. Providing universal access improves access to the service for all who need it, removes stigma, and improves efficiency for schools, while providing a valuable support for all children and families.

10 Cents a Meal: But providing food alone is only part of it—we also need to ensure access to healthy foods. To boost the nutritional value of these meals, Michigan has funded a program that provided school districts and additional 10 cents for every meal that used local, nutritious produce – ensuring that both our students and local farmers could thrive.

While proven and popular, these effective and efficient programs haven’t been made permanent, creating uncertainty for our school districts, families, and local farmers. By supporting both programs, we can improve the health and well-being of our children, boost educational outcomes for our students, and provide meaningful relief for Michigan families as basic expenses like groceries continue to rise. Join us in advocating to make free school meals for all children permanent and fund 10 cents a meal!