GBFB Testifies In Support of Historic Massachusetts Universal School Meals Legislation
GBFB Testifies In Support of Historic Massachusetts Universal School Meals Legislation
JANUARY 4, 2022 —The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on bills S.314 and H.714, An act relative to universal school meals.
GBFB’s Senior Government Relations Coordinator Molly Kepner testified on behalf of the legislation in two capacities – as a representative of GBFB and as someone who grew up relying on free school meals. Molly’s expertise in growing up in a food insecure household demonstrated the value of universal school meals as a vehicle to end stigma associated with accessing food assistance.
If Universal School Meals legislation is enacted, Massachusetts would become the third state, following behind Maine and California, where school meals would be available at no-cost to every student.
The Greater Boston Food Bank supports passing this legislation to ensure our state’s children can continue full access to school meals and calls on the committee to report the bill out favorably. We must not return to pre-pandemic policies, and we must commit to removing barriers to nutritional access for our future generations.
GBFB is an active member of the Feed Kids Coalition, led by partner Project Bread, who is leading the legislative campaign to pass this historic legislation. Take Action Here