The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the continuation of its universal free lunch program for the 2021-2022 school year, extending the earlier deadline of September 30. This initiative aims to provide nutritious meals to over 12 million American children grappling with food insecurity and is a vital part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to safely reopening schools.
Feeding America reported that in 2018, 1 in 9 Americans faced food insecurity, affecting 11 million children—a number that has likely surged during the global pandemic. With schools closed, many children lost access to healthy meals, leading to distressing uncertainty about their daily nutrition. The pandemic has thrust countless American families into food insecurity, as parents who once had stable jobs now struggle to provide for their families. Those who were not previously eligible for free lunch found themselves in dire circumstances.
In response, the USDA introduced child nutrition program waivers last spring, allowing any student in need to obtain food from their school. These waivers also granted schools flexibility in how they served meals, enabling parents to pick up multiple meals for their children or even have food delivered to homes when necessary. This increased adaptability has proven to be a significant success.
With at least one healthy meal guaranteed each day, children can focus on being kids rather than worrying about their families’ well-being. They carry burdens typically shouldered by adults, including concerns about health, safety, and housing stability. Knowing they can access nutritious food brings relief and a sense of normalcy amidst chaos.
According to SchoolNutrition.org, the National School Lunch Program serves 29.6 million students daily across 100,000 schools and institutions, totaling an impressive 4.9 billion lunches each year for children who might otherwise go without.
For the upcoming school year, schools will continue to provide meals through the USDA’s National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option, typically available only in summer. This program equips schools to offer meals that meet USDA standards, including fruits, vegetables, milk, whole grains, and proper calorie levels. Additionally, schools will receive higher per-meal reimbursements to address increased operational costs.
The USDA’s announcement of the extended free lunch program complements other initiatives aimed at enhancing food security and combating hunger across America. The Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act allocates over $12 billion in new nutritional assistance, which includes:
- An additional $1.1 billion monthly for approximately 41 million participants through a 15% increase in SNAP benefits until September 2021.
- $1.1 billion for territories managing nutrition assistance block grants, supporting 3 million Americans.
- Extended P-EBT services to assist over 8 million families with children during the public health emergency.
- Funding for the Child and Adult Care Food Program to provide meals for homeless young adults.
- Nearly $900 million allocated through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), including an extra $35 in monthly fruit and vegetable vouchers for over 6.2 million beneficiaries.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the USDA aims to transform the American food system, focusing on ensuring communities have access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food while addressing food insecurity. Making school lunch programs available to all children is an excellent starting point.
“Students’ success in the classroom goes hand in hand with their ability to access basic needs like healthy and nutritious meals,” stated Secretary of Education Jake Thompson. “It’s critical that our efforts to reopen schools quickly and safely include programs that provide access to free, healthy meals for our most vulnerable students, particularly those whose communities have been hardest hit by the pandemic. This program will ensure more students, regardless of their educational setting, can access free, healthy meals as more schools reopen their doors for in-person learning.”
No child should have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Thankfully, President Biden acknowledges this issue and is stepping up to assist millions of American children, helping to alleviate food insecurity and promote their health and success in and out of the classroom.
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Summary:
The Biden Administration’s extension of the universal free lunch program is a vital initiative aimed at combating food insecurity among American children, especially in the wake of the pandemic. This move not only ensures that millions of students receive nutritious meals but also aligns with broader efforts to support families facing financial hardships. By providing access to healthy food, the program seeks to foster a more stable and secure environment for children, allowing them to focus on their education and well-being.