😃 What could be: Universal school meals provided during the pandemic gave a glimpse of what this could look like: Fewer hungry children, cafeterias without stigma, happier and healthier students and higher levels of learning.
🍽️ We are almost there: Last year, state and federal changes meant hundreds of thousands more children were eligible for free meals in New York, but an estimated 750 schools and 360,000 students were still left out. This year, we must close the gap.
🎒 New York can do this: This goal is achievable, and its effects will be immediate. When children don’t have to worry if they’ll get another meal and when they don’t have to fear the shame, stigma and potential bullying that surrounds accessing those free meals, we see positive changes in academic performance, attendance and classroom climate.
