By Eric Mitchell
Nearly 16 million children in the United States live at risk of hunger. Many of these children rely on child nutrition programs in order to receive the healthy meals they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Decisions are being made right now on Capitol Hill regarding child nutrition reauthorization legislation. These decisions will greatly impact the future of child nutrition programs.
Call (800-826-3688) or email your U.S. representative and your U.S. senators. Ask Congress to take action to connect children at risk of hunger with the meals they need to learn and grow.
Child nutrition programs have a history of strong bipartisan support and are critical for combating child hunger and obesity. These programs are essential to the well-being of children — during the school year and also when they are out of school. But these programs need to be improved.
For every six low-income children who receive a school lunch, only about half also get a school breakfast, and only one also gets a meal in the summer. In other words, many children are missing essential meals. We can’t let this happen, and we can’t allow Congress to let it happen.
A strong child nutrition bill should give more children access to summer feeding programs, keep school meals healthy, and provide nutritious food for children in child care.
Please act on behalf of children. Call (800-826-3688) or email your U.S. representative and your U.S. senators. Urge Congress to pass a strong child nutrition bill that ensures children have access to the nutritious meals they need to succeed.
Congress must take action now — millions of hungry children are counting on them!
Eric Mitchell is the director of government relations at Bread for the World.
