麻豆精品

Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for 麻豆精品 Newsletter

Elementary school children enjoyed breakfast foods, snacks and milk at Waverly East School in Lansing Wednesday morning as leaders announced a program that will bring free breakfast and lunch to kids around the state 鈥� even when school is out for the summer.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, led an initiative to pour federal funds into expanding food access during the summer for children. While some children have had access to free food during the school year, this program will make summer meals permanent.

鈥淲e have this great opportunity for breakfast and lunch and in many cases, for snacks in school,鈥� Stabenow said. 鈥淏ut then we get to the summer, and what we have seen is far less funding available, fewer flexibilities and support for summer meals.鈥�

According to Food Bank Council of Michigan Executive Director Phil Knight, Michigan is the first state to implement the program, which is .

Other states are also expected to implement their share of federal funds, but several Republican governors rejected the aid.

鈥淔eeding children should not be a partisan issue,鈥� State Superintendent Michael Rice said.

Stabenow predicted the program will feed 900,000 children in Michigan this summer. The new, permanent funding breaks up into three different categories, so families in different situations have flexibility to get food.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had meals on site for a long time, although you basically have to fight for money every year,鈥� Stabenow said. 鈥淓very year we have to fight to get summer meals, so now this is permanent.鈥�

The first is a 鈥渢raditional summer meals鈥� program, which serves children meals at a specific location and does not require an application. Another program offers 鈥渕eals-to-go,鈥� which are available in more rural areas. Families can pick up multiple meals at a time or get food delivered.

鈥淲e have set up all these flexibilities so that there鈥檚 more opportunities to pick up food,鈥� Stabenow said.

The final option is for kids who attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program and receives free or reduced-price lunch or if the child is on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid.

鈥淲e鈥檙e helping people where they are, not where we wish they were. And we understand that this is not just an expense; it鈥檚 also an investment,鈥� Knight said.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan J. Demas for questions: [email protected]. Follow Michigan Advance on and .

Did you use this article in your work?

We鈥檇 love to hear how 麻豆精品鈥檚 reporting is helping educators, researchers, and policymakers.