A Hungry Child Can’t Learn: The Fight to Keep Kids in Schools Fed

25Apr
by Leticia Chavez-Garcia

Time Magazine published a riveting  report  about the upcoming expiration of meal waivers introduced during the pandemic in response to the millions of families suddenly experiencing economic hardship and food insecurity. The waivers went over well; billions of meals went to feed hungry kids. However the federal funding is set to expire, leaving families stranded, and politicians scrambling: 

“Now, a handful of Senators have introduced a bipartisan bill to extend the waivers through the 2023 school year—but its future is uncertain. Supporters need sixty votes to pass the measure, which is expected to cost $11 billion. While Democrats, including centrist Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin are on board, only two Republicans have signed on.

The stakes are high. If the bipartisan bill is not enacted, schools will have fewer funds to prepare meals under stricter nutritional guidelines and hundreds of thousands of school children in America won’t have access to the meals they’ve now relied on for years.” 

The article also expands into additional issues schools are facing, such as supply chain shortages and rising food costs. At La Comadre we believe a hungry child cannot learn, and there’s no reason for any child to go hungry in a country with resources as great as ours. Politicians need to cut through the red tape and supply all students with nutritious meals. Are you satisfied with the quality of food at your school? How do you think schools and communities can approach making sure all kids have access to healthy meals?

What do you think?
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Leticia Chavez-Garcia

Leticia Chavez-Garcia is a Mother, Grandmother, former Middle School Teacher, former Member of a School Board of Education and an Education Advocate for hundreds of parents and students in the Inland Empire. Having become a mother at 15, Leticia knows what it’s like to be a single mother trying to navigate the education system. Leticia received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from California Baptist University and a Masters’ Degree in Education Technology from Cal State Fullerton in her 30’s. Leticia has used her knowledge and experience to help hundreds of families as an Education Advocate in the Inland Empire and currently works as an Education Specialist.

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