Maine to Consider Offering Free Breakfast & Lunch to All Students

Child Hunger in Maine

According to Feeding America, 1 in 6 children in Maine face hunger. Kids that don't know when or where their next meal will be. Something that has been an even bigger hurdle during the pandemic with kids not attending school in person. The one place where they're guaranteed a meal or two.

Thankfully many programs and efforts were made to assist these kids through the pandemic.

Some schools even offer a backpack program for kids to bring home food so they won't go hungry over the weekend.

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Stigma

Sadly there can be a stigma for students who receive discounted or free lunch at school. One Sanford High School Student told the Sun Journal, "Students were bullied because they were not able to afford school lunch..."

Some Maine legislators are looking to fight that.

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Expanding Access to Free School Meals

There is a new bill being considered brought forth by Maine Senate President, Troy Jackson of Allagash. The bill is titled, An Act To Address Student Hunger through Expanding Access to Free School Meals. In sum, the bill would require the state of Maine to pay the difference between federal funding for those eligible for reduced-price and free breakfasts and lunches, and the entirety of the cost for breakfast and lunch for all other students. You can read the proposal in full, here.

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