Universal School Meals Act celebrated at Mill Road

Next school year, students across New York will receive free school breakfast and lunch regardless of their family’s income through the Universal School Meals Act approved as part of the state budget.

On Monday, school officials, advocates and legislators gathered at Red Hook’s Mill Road Elementary School to celebrate the momentous program, which includes all school districts, charter schools and nonpublic schools that participate in the national school lunch and breakfast program.

“This initiative marks a critical step toward ensuring that every student has access to the nutritious meals they need to learn, grow and thrive,” Red Hook Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Warden said in her opening remarks. “But, this program is about more than food. It’s about equity, dignity and opportunity for all children.”

District 41 State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, and District 34 Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, who did the same in the Assembly, spoke, as did District 103 Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha. Both Hinchey and Shrestha represent northern Dutchess County, among other areas. Rhinebeck Superintendent of Schools Albert Cousins, New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person, CEO of Hunger Solutions New York Andres Vives and Executive Director of Community Food Advocates Liz Accles were also among those who visited Red Hook to speak and celebrate the program’s passage.

Hinchey noted, around 80% of schools had already qualified for the free lunch program of last year, but advocates and lawmakers continued pushing to make it a universal right in New York. By being uniform, they said, it removes the stigma some may feel in taking part in the program due to their family’s income level. And, free meals will save the average family $165 per month.

Red Hook for several years has offered free breakfast to all its students through generous annual donations from the Ascienzo Family Foundation, which was honored during the gathering, and free and reduced lunch to qualifying students. Red Hook can now opt-in to the statewide program for breakfast and lunch.

Larry Anthony, food services director for Red Hook, Rhinebeck and Pine Plains, pointed out, the existing farm-to-school program in which the state is encouraging schools to include at least 30% of New York-sourced ingredients in their meals will mean many of the students receiving free lunches will be eating foods with healthy ingredients. He called the free meals initiative “a basic humanitarian effort.”

Many who spoke pointed out the importance of consistent and nutritious meals in putting students in the best conditions to learn effectively. That includes the fifth grade students invited to speak to the room, Kimberly Merchan, Gunner Lynch and Mahi Jain, who also talked about the stigma that exists in some schools.

“Making school breakfast and lunch free will make sure no kid’s embarrassed about not being able to afford it,” Mahi said. “With this new program no student or family will feel any shame about food insecurity … hopefully our class will be the last class that this is an issue for.”