Keeping children fed is everyone's responsibility. One in seven children in America are food insecure (what the federal government used to call "at risk of hunger"); often missing meals because their parents do not make enough money. All children deserve to eat healthy meals everyday, so that they can grow up healthy, concentrate in school, and have the energy to play and learn. Helping kids eat also means that their parents can focus on work and making ends meet, assured that their children are not going hungry. At Just Harvest we advocate for better child nutrition programs that reach more kids, provide better meals, and reduce the stigma of receiving help.
In 2009 we are focusing on:
- The federal reauthorization of the five major child nutrition programs, including: 1) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); 2) school lunch and breakfast programs; 3) child care meals; 4) summer food; and 5) after-school snacks and dinners. Each of these programs deserves more funding and greater reach. Key issues include increased reimbursement rates to providers in each of the federal programs and expanding free school meal eligibility up to 185% of the poverty line.
- The expansion of summer food programs here in Allegheny County. At more than 200 summer feeding sites around the city and county, thousands of children are able to access a healthy free meal each day during the summer. This simple service makes a big difference to participating families, and services should be expanded to more sites in communities of need.
For more information on child nutrition programs in Allegheny County and our ongoing advocacy efforts, contact Shauna Ponton. Check out our Summer Food Map to learn about the current summer food sites in Allegheny County. Also visit our page of links to related social service organizations.
To find out more about federal food programs, visit the Food Research and Action Center. To learn about how food programs work in Pennsylvania visit thePennsylvania Hunger Action Center.
To learn about the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), its eligibility standards, and how to apply, visit Allegheny County's WIC page.
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