As Food Insecurity Increases, Advocates Call for Free School Meals

Published On: March 27, 2024Categories: Government, Schools
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From left: Lucy Nolan, Policy Director at End Hunger Connecticut! speaks to reporters during a news conference Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, along with Rep. Maura Rader, D-Guilford, and Rep. Gary Turco D-Newington. Photo credit: Jamil Ragland, CTNewsJunkie

In West Hartford, 28% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, but according to the United Way’s ALICE calculation, the survival budget for a family of four in the state is $126,000 – leaving a gap of nearly $70,000 where families make too much to qualify for free or reduced lunch but still have trouble making ends meet.

By Jamil Ragland, CTNewsJunkie.com 

As food insecurity grows across the state, a coalition of advocates and legislators are calling on the General Assembly to provide funding to continue free meal programs in Connecticut’s schools.

End Hunger Connecticut!, a nonprofit organization that supports free meals for all students through its School Meals 4 All CT campaign, held a news conference Tuesday at the state Capitol to ask legislators to support free breakfast for all, and covering the share of families who qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

Click here to read the rest of the article on CTNewsJunkie.com.

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