Now is the time to end hunger in Oregon’s Schools!
Healthy school meals are just as important to learning as textbooks or pencils. Children who participate in school meals are shown to: attend more days of school, show improved test scores, be more likely to graduate, and earn more as adults.
Every student, classroom, teacher, and community is better off when kids start the school day well-nourished and ready to learn. Oregon has the opportunity to become the first state in the nation to offer healthy, tasty school meals to all children at no charge – helping every student learn, grow, and succeed in life!
Why Universal School Meals?
- Reduces stigma. Universal meals level the playing field for all students. It’s just classmates breaking bread together.
- Equity. In this time of fear and uncertainty around immigration, reports are widespread of immigrant families being reluctant to apply for benefits for which they’re legally eligible – including school meals. No child should go without a meal due to fear.
- Centers the needs of kids and working parents. In listening circles with parents and students, the idea of universal meals emerged as a key issue.
- Eliminates the “Benefit Cliff.” Due to the high cost of housing, 37% of kids in Oregon who experience food insecurity are in households that earn too much to qualify.
That’s why Familias en Acción supports Universal Access to School Meals (HB 2760) and Breakfast After the Bell (HB 2765).
Tell your legislators to take action today!
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