Public Comments for: HB686 - School meals; availability at no cost to students.
See file:
I work in a county that is truly diverse. We have families that are in every economic bracket. This bill would really help our community, especially the less privileged, to have access to nutritious meals. As current president of this chapter, I support this bill.
Thank you for your support to feed Virginia scholars. School meals are an essential part of the student day. Sincerely, Teresa
I am writing in support of the HB686-Bennett-Parker Bill. I am a Cafeteria Manager for an elementary school in Loudoun County, which is said to be one of the "wealthiest" counties in the United States (according to various magazine articles). However, every day I see that there are students that do not eat lunch. There is one family that was $300.00 over the free or reduce lunch qualification and they struggle to provide lunch for their student. With the state of the economy the cost for school breakfast and lunches has increased, but the family income has not. We are all impacted by this, even you. I am sure with all that comes across your desk you would want nothing more than to help everyone you serve, I believe that's why you are in the position you are in. We know that isn't how things work, we have to prioritize. At this time I am hoping that ALL of America's future leaders make it to the top of your priority list and you support the HB686-Bennett-Parker Bill to ensure that ALL students are provided breakfast and lunch.
Good Evening, I am a food service director with VA public schools. I encourage your support to HB 686. Providing a healthy school breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students on school days will ensure they are alert and ready to learn.
My name is Casey Dickinson and I am writing to you as the School Nutrition Assistant Director for Chesterfield County Public Schools and as the Vice President of the School Nutrition Association of Virginia. I am reaching out to express my strong support for House Bill 686 and to urge you to consider its importance for the well-being of our children and the community. As you are aware, access to nutritious meals plays a crucial role in a child's physical and academic development. House Bill 686, which proposes universal free feeding in Virginia schools, is a significant step towards ensuring that every child has access to the nourishment they need to thrive. I believe that supporting this bill is not only a commitment to the health of our students but also an investment in the future of our wonderful Commonwealth. Universal free feeding addresses several key issues that impact the well-being of our students. By eliminating financial barriers, this policy ensures that no child goes hungry during the school day. It fosters an inclusive and supportive environment, promoting equality and reducing the stigma associated with free and reduced-price meal programs. Additionally, studies have consistently shown that proper nutrition positively influences academic performance, attendance, and overall behavior in the classroom. As a school nutrition employee in both local and state positions, I've witnessed firsthand the challenges that some of our students face in accessing regular, nutritious meals. Universal free feeding not only addresses these challenges but also creates a positive and nurturing atmosphere in our schools. It allows us to focus on our primary goal – ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, both academically and personally. I understand that legislative decisions require careful consideration, and I appreciate the work you do to represent the interests of our community. I firmly believe that by supporting HB 686, we are taking a significant step towards building a healthier, more equitable future for Virginia's children.
Eating nutritious foods has a direct impact on academic achievement, performance, & overall wellbeing. Nutrient-rich foods provide essential nutrients that support brain health & cognitive function, leading to improved memory & concentration. Research shows that students who consistently consume a nutritious diet, or even just have the opportunity to eat enough in general, have improved attendance and better academic outcomes, like higher test scores and grades. Additionally, getting adequate nutrition through food can support a healthy immune system, reducing absences from school due to sickness or injuries. Providing no cost meals to students across divisions has the potential to increase meal participation, decrease stigma, and cultivate an environment of equity.
Dear Chair Rasoul and Members of the House Education Committee: As a concern citizen of the great State of Virginia and a director of food service in Prince Edward County, I write to ask that you support HB 686, School meals, availability at no cost to students. This important measure would extend to all students, no matter household income. Similar to textbooks, desk, transportation, afterschool activities, that school meals should be available to all students at no cost. Students come to school in the morning hungry and have no money to purchase breakfast. It's a known fact that as humans we can't learn or work on an empty stomach. Some of these students will go through the day feeling sick which they will then be sent home. Some students will act out which means they will get in trouble and be removed from the classroom. Some students will not get their daily vitamins and nutrition that they need to grow and be healthy. Some students the only meal they get is from school because there is no food at home or no one at home to cook them a nutrition meal. Meal debit is costing school districts around the state thousands of dollars each year. Those dollars could be used to improve programs, give food service professional pay increases, and could be used to purchase more produce from local farmers and keep the money in the local economy. Offering no-cost meals to all: • Increases school meal program participation, which means the nutritional needs of more students are met. • Promotes equity by eliminating the out-of-pocket costs for families and reducing the stigma of school meals programs. • Eliminates the burden on families to submit applications for free meals. • Reduces administrative burden on school districts by eliminating school meals applications, counting and claiming by category, and collecting unpaid meal charges. • Provides school nutrition staff more time and resources to focus on access to innovative service models, such as Breakfast in the Classroom. Five states have already recognized the benefits of free school meals to students. California, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota and New Mexico see how much it has been a relief to families and schools. Help make Virginia, a state that usage a head of the pack, make the right decision. I strongly support this legislation and ask that you support this bill and use your influence to advance the bill to benefit the children of Virginia while helping your constituents. Thanks for considering my view. I look forward to your response or meeting with you on January 30, 2024, when members of School Nutrition Assocation of Virginia visits Richmond. Bruce Davis Supervisor of Food Service Prince Edward County
As the Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services for Rockingham County Public Schools (RCPS), I urge you to support HB 686. RCPS does not currently qualify for district-wide CEP. School Meals for All promotes equity for all families in our district and eliminates the administrative burden that falls on parents, teachers and school nutrition staff to complete meal applications. A meal should be a provided school supply. I receive inquiries frequently as to why we do not have meals at no charge for all students, while other counties do. This bill would have unanimous support across Rockingham County based on personal conversations in my everyday life, from parents who are farmers and are just above the free/reduced threshold to school office staff who wouldn’t have to spend time going back and forth with families on filling out a complicated application correctly. On behalf of my staff, the employees of RCPS, parents and most importantly our students, I ask for your support on School Meals for All.
Honorable Delegates, I am writing to express my strong support for Virginia House Bill 686, which focuses on ensuring the availability of school meals at no cost toe students in public elementary and secondary schools throughout Virginia. This bill aligns with crucial federal programs such as the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, emphasizing the importance of providing nutritious meals to students The proposed legislation not only mandates participation in these federal programs but also encourages the adoption of policies and procedures to maximize access to federal funds. Additionally, the bill aims to lower the minimum identified student percentage to 25% for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), making it more inclusive. I believe that by making lunch and breakfast available to any student at no cost, unless explicit permission is given by a parent otherwise, we can contribute to the well-being and academic success of students across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Furthermore, the provision for state reimbursement for each served meal is a commendable step in supporting schools financially. I urge you to consider the positive impact this bill could have on students' health, educational outcomes, and overall community well-being. I hope you will support and advocate for the passage of VA HB 686 to ensure that no student faces barriers to accessing breakfast and lunch meals at no cost during their school day. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter and your positive vote in support of HB 686. Sincerely, Larry Wade, Sr., President School Nutrition Association of Virginia (SNA-VA) 708 Barbury Arch Chesapeake, VA 2332 larrywade8@gmail.com
Please vote to pass HB 686 Meals for All. The children in Virginia need your help. Every child should be able to get a hot meal and not have to worry about being hungry. Parents are struggling and children are suffering. Please vote for free meals for children.
I highly encourage you to pass HB626, providing universal free meals to all students. This bill is critical and should be passed for many reasons. Many households are still struggling economically and need this benefit. Students need to have access to nutritious, healthy meals without the stigma of receiving them based on their families income. The income level does not truly reflect the need of the family, in most cases. Please, please, please pass this bill. For our children!
Good morning, I serve as Public Policy Chair for the School Nutrition Association of Virginia (SNA-VA) and also as the Director of School Nutrition with Harrisonburg City Schools. The SNA-VA strongly supports legislation which increases access to no-cost school meals for all students. HCPS is eligible to participate division-wide in the federal Community Eligibility Provision. We saw the tremendous value of no-cost school meals during the pandemic when meals were served free in all public schools and again when we transitioned to CEP when the pandemic programs expired. It would be wonderful for no-cost school meals to be a reality for all schools, not just those who are eligible for CEP. Attached is a document which details the work of the SNA-VA and lists the benefits of no-cost school meals for all for your review. I respectfully ask for your support of HB 686. Thank you, Andrea Early
Dear Legislator I am writing to express my strong support for Virginia House Bill 686, which focuses on ensuring the availability of school meals at no cost to students in public elementary and secondary schools. This bill aligns with crucial federal programs such as the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, emphasizing the importance of providing nutritious meals to students The proposed legislation not only mandates participation in these federal programs but also encourages the adoption of policies and procedures to maximize access to federal funds. Additionally, the bill aims to lower the minimum identified student percentage for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision, making it more inclusive. I believe that by making lunch and breakfast available to any student at no cost, unless explicit permission is given otherwise, we can contribute to the well-being and academic success of students across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Furthermore, the provision for state reimbursement for each served meal is a commendable step in supporting schools financially. I urge you to consider the positive impact this bill could have on students' health, educational outcomes, and overall community well-being. I hope you will support and advocate for the passage of VA HB 686 to ensure that no student faces barriers to accessing breakfast and lunch meals at no cost during their school day. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Save the Children Action Network, representing over 18,000 supporters across Virginia, stands in strong support of HB 686 that would allow for no-cost school meals for Virginia’s students. As an advocate with Save the Children Action Network, I am writing to urge you to prioritize the needs of children, our most vulnerable citizens. The lives and circumstances for many children and families in Virginia is dire, with over 200,000 children living in poverty in the Commonwealth and rising food prices pushing families across the nation to the brink of hunger — especially in rural America. A recent poll conducted by Save the Children and Save the Children Action Network found that 77% of rural and small-town voters worry they won’t be able to feed their families this year. Nutritious food is essential for young minds and bodies. It’s the foundation that allows kids to thrive as learners and in life. But 12 million children in the U.S. are growing up hungry. Malnutrition stunts more than kids' development – it stunts their futures, too. Hungry children are more likely to struggle in class, repeat a grade or miss school entirely. Without enough to eat, they may never reach their full potential. To solve the hunger crisis, we need stronger, more accessible child nutrition support across Virginia – especially in rural America, where many families live miles from the closest grocery store and healthy food can be hard to come by. Children growing up in Virginia’s hardest-to-reach communities deserve reliable access to healthy meals – and their chance to have a bright future. As an advocate for kids, I urge you to support HB 686 so children have the bright futures they deserve.
There is too much research available about the positive benefits of nutritious meals as a key element of childhood development to ignore this problem for any longer. Children solely continue to bear the brunt of the negative effects of the current USDA program for benefit qualification - No matter how careful we are in the School Nutrition Program, students who qualify for free and reduced lunches are evident to anyone who pays attention to details. - No matter how many times we reach out to families to load student accounts, there are those who cannot, will not, or cannot be contacted for various reasons. - No matter how we change our local policies in favor of grace for those families who are on the cusp of the programs, maybe only missing the benefit by a few dollars, these families suffer the added burden of feeding their school-aged children despite rising costs all around us. - No matter how available we make the information to potentially qualifying families who are not aware of the program, it's benefits both in and outside of the four walls of the school, there will always be families who will not apply whether out of pride, lack of understanding, or otherwise. With the onset of the free meals programs operated during the pandemic, we've seen the benefits of being able to put full plates in front of students twice a day. If meals were free there would be no stigma associated with individually qualifying students. We would be able to introduce new foods and new concepts each year in our school cafeterias. Cafeteria managers and program operators would be able to shift the limited time resources we have from tracking down meal debt like debt collectors to expanding access, programming, local agriculture support, and all of the other nutrition-focused initiatives that are highlighted across the globe every day. At the end of the day, access to nutrition should not be a barrier to any school-aged student any more than access to school textbooks, technology, or facilities is. We have to do better for our students and our children and the families and communities that support them. Give families back their buying power to put food on the table OUTSIDE of the school day and allow School Nutrition programs to at least focus on feeding each individual student stigma-free.
As a food service director within the Virginia public school system, I encourage your vote to support HB686. This change will not only provide healthy meals to all students, but it will also improve efficiencies for all school staff to direct their time and attention to classroom work, creative meal production and lessen classroom behavior issues. Accounting for students to have a meal with or without funds creates additional workload for teachers and cafeteria staff. Thank you for the consideration. This HB should also be fully funded as compared to a free meal reimbursement. The challenge of the present CEP program for schools with a ISP that is not 60% creates a burden for school divisions when each meal is not fully funded.
Please approve this bill! School lunch should be a right for all children! If we get government reimbursement anyway. Why not make it easier and just make it free across the board. Thank you!!
We require students to show up to school each day and be on time, to remain in the building during learning hours, to be on time to class, to remember their homework and instruments and sporting equipment. It only seams appropriate that free school lunches for all would be part of the packaged deal, and should include public, private and day schools!!!!
This would be a great benefit for the families of students in King William County.
Please, please, please pass this house bill. We should be providing meals to our children at no charge. Many families are struggling, still, and free meals would be a great benefit to them. And, the students would have access to healthy, nutritious meals on a daily basis. The stigma of "free" or "reduced" priced meals needs to be changed. This is how that can be accomplished.
School meals should be available to all students at no cost.
Please allow all children to eat free in Virginia.
I believe that all students should be allowed the opportunity to have Breakfast and Lunch without having to worry about money on an account or if their parents have the funds to be able to buy Breakfast or Lunch. Breakfast or Lunch shouldn't be a stressful time for children to wonder if they will be told they don't have money on their account or that their funds are low. Thanks for your time
I support meals being free for all students.
In support of this bill.
With food prices increasing tremendously free meals for all will help all families make ends meet.
School meals for all will benefit our students, staff and parents. There will be no stigma for children receiving free meals, there will be no school meal debt for parents to worry about paying off because their income is just above the income eligibility guidelines and they cannot afford to pay. The burden of being short staffed and dealing with free/reduced applications and time consuming claim reimbursements would be removed.
please provide all meals free to students
Please consider approving house bill HB686 as it will greatly impact the lives of our students within the division. Understanding that nutrition directly correlates to academic achievement and performance in the classroom, this would move our division in the right direction in our on going efforts to increase meal participation, decrease stigma, and cultivate an environment of equity across the board for all students. Thank you for your time and consideration.
So many children in this country go hungry each day. It is important that they can depend on Breakfast and Lunch at school. Also one less thing for parents to have to worry about when trying to make ends meet.
I support any bill that provides free food for all students. During Covid, I saw the effect that no cost food made in families during that time of uncertainty. Breaking the barrier that separates students from nutritious meals due to money issues.
The Va Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (VAND) supports Universal School meals for all children in the Commonwealth. Food insecurity is not uncommon in children that are not qualified for free and reduced lunch for a variety reasons. If we want to maximize learning in our children (1), please consider taking potential hunger out of the equation and recognize the cost of providing meals to children now can pay big dividends in the future. Please reach out if you would like further information. 1 https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/how-does-hunger-affect-learning As registered dietitians, VAND urges your support and are available to answer any of your nutrition related questions. Thank you! Lesley McPhatter, MS, RDN, CSR Va Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 434.485.1608
As the Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services for Rockingham County Public Schools (RCPS), I urge you to support HB 686. RCPS does not currently qualify for district-wide CEP. School Meals for All promotes equity for all families in our district and eliminates the administrative burden that falls on parents, teachers and school nutrition staff to complete meal applications. A meal should be a provided school supply. I receive inquiries frequently as to why we do not have meals at no charge for all students, while other counties do. This bill would have unanimous support across Rockingham County based on personal conversations in my everyday life, from parents who are farmers and are just above the free/reduced threshold to school office staff who wouldn’t have to spend time going back and forth with families on filling out a complicated application correctly. On behalf of my staff, the employees of RCPS, parents and most importantly our students, I ask for your support on School Meals for All.
Please consider to support HB686 for the students of Culpeper County Public Schools. Feeding all students at no cost will benefit our students and families of our community. With the cost of living going up for everyone this will help many families struggling to make ends meet every month. At the same time this will benefit students by getting nutritious meals from our program and help them with their academics.
I am a school nutrition, Director and have seen firsthand the impact of feeding all children, breakfast and lunch without constraint. You never know what a child is going through at home or their situation but for them to know they can come to school and get a meal is priceless. it takes the stigma out of receiving a meal and provide nutrition all of our futures. Please consider feeding all children and Virginia had no charge to them.
This is very important that every child need a good breakfast and lunch each day. Passing this bill to provide free meals to all school children will help them throughout the school day. This could be the only meals some children receive for they don't have money to purchase a meal. I strongly encourage you to pass this bill.
I am writing to express my strong support for Virginia House Bill 686, which focuses on ensuring the availability of school meals at no cost to students in public elementary and secondary schools throughout Virginia. This bill aligns with crucial federal programs such as the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, emphasizing the importance of providing nutritious meals to students The proposed legislation not only mandates participation in these federal programs but also encourages the adoption of policies and procedures to maximize access to federal funds. Additionally, the bill aims to lower the minimum identified student percentage to 25% for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), making it more inclusive. I believe that by making lunch and breakfast available to any student at no cost, unless explicit permission is given by a parent otherwise, we can contribute to the well-being and academic success of students across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Furthermore, the provision for state reimbursement for each served meal is a commendable step in supporting schools financially. I urge you to consider the positive impact this bill could have on students' health, educational outcomes, and overall community well-being. I hope you will support and advocate for the passage of VA HB 686 to ensure that no student faces barriers to accessing breakfast and lunch meals at no cost during their school day. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter and your positive vote in support of HB 686.
This bill is a must to help our future, are students.
Subject: Support for VA HB 686 - School Meals Accessibility Dear Legislator , I am writing to express my strong support for Virginia House Bill 686, which focuses on ensuring the availability of school meals at no cost to students in public elementary and secondary schools. This bill aligns with crucial federal programs such as the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, emphasizing the importance of providing nutritious meals to students The proposed legislation not only mandates participation in these federal programs but also encourages the adoption of policies and procedures to maximize access to federal funds. Additionally, the bill aims to lower the minimum identified student percentage for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision, making it more inclusive. I believe that by making lunch and breakfast available to any student at no cost, unless explicit permission is given otherwise, we can contribute to the well-being and academic success of students across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Furthermore, the provision for state reimbursement for each served meal is a commendable step in supporting schools financially. I urge you to consider the positive impact this bill could have on students' health, educational outcomes, and overall community well-being. I hope you will support and advocate for the passage of VA HB 686 to ensure that no student faces barriers to accessing breakfast and lunch meals at no cost during their school day. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. Sincerely, Larry Wade, Sr., President, School Nutrition Association of Virginia (SNA-VA) 708 Barbury Arch Chesapeake, VA 23323 larrywade8@gmail.com 757.692.5111
Thank you for the opportunity to speak o behalf of the scholars in VA, All students should receive breakfast and lunch at school without the burden on the family to pay. Please allow our students the opportunity to receive free meals in Virginia. Sincerely,
Vote in favor of: HB1039, HB732, HB686, HB603, HB498, HB497, HB482, HB386, HB253, HB224, HB215, HB134, and HB41. I would recommend including additional language in HB41 that addresses voter registrations in public schools. Being an active voter is part of our civic duty and participation in our democratic process should be taught and encouraged. Voter registration drives should be occurring in all public high schools in the Commonwealth.
My name is Casey Dickinson and I am writing as the School Nutrition Assistant Director for Chesterfield County Public Schools and as the Vice President of the School Nutrition Association of Virginia. I am reaching out to express my strong support for House Bill 686 and to urge you to consider its importance for the well-being of our children and the community. As you are aware, access to nutritious meals plays a crucial role in a child's physical and academic development. House Bill 686, which proposes universal free feeding in Virginia schools, is a significant step towards ensuring that every child has access to the nourishment they need to thrive. I believe that supporting this bill is not only a commitment to the health of our students but also an investment in the future of our wonderful Commonwealth. Universal free feeding addresses several key issues that impact the well-being of our students. By eliminating financial barriers, this policy ensures that no child goes hungry during the school day. It fosters an inclusive and supportive environment, promoting equality and reducing the stigma associated with free and reduced-price meal programs. Additionally, studies have consistently shown that proper nutrition positively influences academic performance, attendance, and overall behavior in the classroom. As a school nutrition employee in both local and state positions, I've witnessed firsthand the challenges that some of our students face in accessing regular, nutritious meals. Universal free feeding not only addresses these challenges but also creates a positive and nurturing atmosphere in our schools. It allows us to focus on our primary goal – ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, both academically and personally. I understand that legislative decisions require careful consideration, and I appreciate the work you do to represent the interests of our community. I firmly believe that by supporting HB 686, we are taking a significant step towards building a healthier, more equitable future for Virginia's children.
Vote YES
Chair Simonds and Honorable Members of the Education K-12 Subcommittee: On behalf of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), thank you for your consideration of HB 686, which would ensure all students access to healthy, nutritious school meals at no cost. This bill clearly aligns with the mission of the ADA to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. A healthy diet can help decrease the risk for obesity and chronic diseases like diabetes. According to the ADA’s Statement on Socioecological Determinants of Diabetes and Prediabetes, those with severe food insecurity have an approximately twofold risk of diabetes compared with those without food insecurity. For children who already have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, food insecurity can also increase the risk of complications. Missing meals, for example, can disrupt the child’s blood glucose (sugar) levels and put them at higher risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose. On the other side, those with diabetes who consume only unhealthy food may have more frequent high blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia, which can raise the risk of long-term complications. The increased incidence of diabetes in our children is truly alarming. According to the ADA’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, the global standard for the management and treatment of diabetes, type 2 diabetes in youth has increased over the past 20 years. Researchers have projected that the prevalence of diabetes in those under 20 years of age could quadruple in 40 years. Currently, nearly 750,000 adults in Virginia have diabetes and another 2.2 million (33%) have prediabetes and are at high-risk for developing the disease. Total direct medical expenses for diagnosed diabetes in Virginia were estimated at $6.1 billion in 2017, and another $2.3 billion was spent on indirect costs from loss of productivity. As the leading cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness among adults, and amputation of the lower extremities, diabetes carries a terrible personal and economic burden. On behalf of your constituents with schoolchildren who are living with or at risk for diabetes, I urge you to support HB 686 as another tool to eliminate barriers and increase access to healthy school breakfasts and lunches - reducing their risk for developing diabetes. We simply can’t afford not to. If I can be of further assistance to you, please contact me at mbillger@diabetes.org. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Good morning, I serve as Public Policy Chair for the School Nutrition Association of Virginia (SNA-VA) and also as the Director of School Nutrition with Harrisonburg City Schools. The SNA-VA strongly supports legislation which increases access to no-cost school meals for all students. HCPS is eligible to participate division-wide in the federal Community Eligibility Provision. We saw the tremendous value of no-cost school meals during the pandemic when meals were served free in all public schools and again when we transitioned to CEP when the pandemic programs expired. It would be wonderful for no-cost school meals to be a reality for all schools, not just those who are eligible for CEP. Attached is a document which details the work of the SNA-VA and lists the benefits of no-cost school meals for all for your review. I respectfully ask for your support of HB 686. Thank you, Andrea Early
Recent data from the non-profit, Feeding America, shows that there are 165,000 hungry children in our commonwealth and as of 2021 43.5% of that group are apart of families who live above the federal poverty line and, as such, do not qualify for many federal programs. Not only do we have a moral responsibility to feed hungry kids via HB 686, but also an economic and fiscal responsibility to do so. According to multiple studies which tracked student performance following enrollment in CEP (Community Eligibility Program) students experienced: Improved math test scores Improved attendance rates Improved classroom behavior Decreased suspension rates If these indicators of heightened educational benefits is not enough, Universal Free School lunch is also more cost efficient with schools enrolled in the CEP spending an average of sixty-seven cents less each lunch, and fifty-eight cents less for each breakfast. If that isn’t enough there is good reason to believe that this bill will pay for itself. Hungry Kids Are 31% more likely to be hospitalized for health issues, in the short term costing in excess of $12,000 Are 90% more likely to have their health reported as “fair/poor” compared to children from food secure households whose health was more likely to be reported as “excellent/good.” And just one diagnosis of protein or calorie malnutrition costs Medicaid approximately 1.25 million dollars in children aged 0-4 It costs about 20 dollars a week to feed a child lunch. The state of Virginia will end up covering the cost of child hunger either now, through the supply of Free school lunch, or later through payment for Medicaid, but it is less costly and more humane to pay that price now.
Dear Chair Simonds and Members of the Education K-12 Subcommittee: As a concern citizen of the great State of Virginia and a director of food service in Prince Edward County, I write to ask that you support HB 686, School meals, availability at no cost to students. This important measure would extend to all students, no matter household income. Similar to textbooks, desk, transportation, afterschool activities, that school meals should be available to all students at no cost. Students come to school in the morning hungry and have no money to purchase breakfast. It's a known fact that as humans we can't learn or work on an empty stomach. Some of these students will go through the day feeling sick which they will then be sent home. Some students will act out which means they will get in trouble and be removed from the classroom. Some students will not get their daily vitamins and nutrition that they need to grow and be healthy. Some students the only meal they get is from school because there is no food at home or no one at home to cook them a nutrition meal. Meal debit is costing school districts around the state thousands of dollars each year. Those dollars could be used to improve programs, give food service professional pay increases, and could be used to purchase more produce from local farmers and keep the money in the local economy. Offering no-cost meals to all: • Increases school meal program participation, which means the nutritional needs of more students are met. • Promotes equity by eliminating the out-of-pocket costs for families and reducing the stigma of school meals programs. • Eliminates the burden on families to submit applications for free meals. • Reduces administrative burden on school districts by eliminating school meals applications, counting and claiming by category, and collecting unpaid meal charges. • Provides school nutrition staff more time and resources to focus on access to innovative service models, such as Breakfast in the Classroom. Five states have already recognized the benefits of free school meals to students. California, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota and New Mexico see how much it has been a relief to families and schools. Help make Virginia, a state that usage a head of the pack, make the right decision. I strongly support this legislation and ask that you support this bill and use your influence to advance the bill to benefit the children of Virginia while helping your constituents. Thanks for considering my view. I look forward to your response or meeting with you on January 30, 2024, when members of School Nutrition Association of Virginia visits Richmond.
seconding what my family and friends have said and taught me as we examine these bills together- 134- YES 214- YES 224- YES 253- YES 386- YES 398- YES 497- YES 498- YES 603- YES 686- YES 732- YES
134- YES to fentanyl training to save lives and decrease stigma. It is overdue 214- YES 224- YES 253- YES civic engagement encouraged 386- YES 398- YES incredible practice to prevent punishment and foster healthy development 497- YES 498- YES 603- YES 686- YES 732- YES Nalaxone critical and life saving
134- YES to fentanyl training to save lives and decrease stigma 214- YES increase safety and change culture 224- YES to save lives with training 253- YES students' voices are critical and will teach power of speaking up for themselves 386- YES 398- YES restorative justice changes lives and prevents school to prison pipeline. Lynchburg has found restorative practices to be so impactful that a federal grant was just awarded almost 1M to continue 497- YES SAVE LIVES 498 YES save lives 603 YES save lives reduce stigma 686 YES 732 YES save lives
Good Morning, Chair Simonds & Subcommittee Members, My name is Justine Blincoe, I am the Policy Director of Greater Richmond Fit4Kids. We are a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit that provides nutrition and physical activity programming and education in public schools in Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Petersburg, and Hopewell. I am asking for your support on HB 686 to make school meals available to all students at no cost to them. Providing free school breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge to families will ensure that students across Virginia have the nutrition they need for healthy development, optimal learning, and positive health outcomes. By providing healthy school meals for all students, we can also reduce administrative burden placed on cafeteria staff, and eliminate school meal debt for families. Thank you for your consideration.
Dear Subcommittee members, I urge you to vote yes on HB686 in order to provide meals to Virginia students at no cost. While existing federal meals programs go a long ways towards helping those students who need the most nutrition assistance, there are without a doubt substantial gaps in coverage. This bill would erase those gaps. In addition, I understand that some of you may have concerns about the cost of this particular bill, however, the benefit to learning outcomes associated with ensuring that no child goes to school hungry is worth every penny. Moreover, the long run benefit this bill would provide to the entire commonwealth far exceeds the short term fiscal costs. Thank you for your consideration, once again I urge you to vote yes on HB686.