A Statement of Support for School Meals for All in Washington

Every Washington child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. But hunger can stand in the way, especially when families are struggling to afford food and make ends meet. By providing breakfast and lunch at no cost to every student, School Meals for All helps ensure children have access to nutritious food during the school day. It is one crucial piece of a comprehensive approach to addressing childhood hunger and supporting student success.

School Meals for All helps ensure no hungry child falls through the cracks.

No child should miss out on school meals because of paperwork or stigma. When access to free meals depends on an application, administrative hurdles and the stigma associated with receiving free meals can keep eligible students from participating. School Meals for All removes these barriers by making breakfast and lunch available at no cost to every student.

School meals are essential to student health and success.

Nutritious school meals do more than address hunger. Consistent access to breakfast and lunch supports students’ health and well-being and helps them focus, participate, and engage in the classroom. Ensuring every student can access school meals helps create an environment where all children have the opportunity to succeed.

School Meals for All provides meaningful relief for families.

Federal income limits that determine eligibility for free school meals don’t reflect the realities of living in a high-cost state like Washington. Many families earn too much to qualify but still struggle to afford groceries and other essentials. School Meals for All helps close that gap, easing pressure on household budgets and freeing up money for rent, child care, utilities, and other necessities.

We support School Meals for All as an impactful tool for addressing childhood hunger, supporting student success, and easing pressure on family budgets. We believe Washington has an opportunity to make a meaningful commitment to our children and their futures. We invite organizations and community partners across the state to join us in affirming that every student deserves access to nutritious school meals, and that no child should face unnecessary barriers to getting the food they need.

Together, we can build a Washington where every child has the nutrition they need to thrive.