To mark this year’s National School Lunch Week, Assembly Education Committee Chair Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden, Burlington) released the following statement:
“Eating a nutritious breakfast and lunch prepares students to start the morning focused and to stay energized throughout the school day. It empowers students to be the best learners they can be.
“I applaud Speaker Coughlin and Senator Ruiz for recognizing this reality and working on legislation to ensure that every child in New Jersey has access to breakfast and lunch while at school.
“School meal programs assure that students have proper nutrition and provide vital support to families in need. By building on the success of New Jersey’s Breakfast After the Bell program and expanding access to school meals, we can magnify the positive social, educational, and health benefits.
“As federal changes to SNAP threaten school meal program eligibility, it is imperative that New Jersey take action to ensure that no student is forced to go hungry. Only by eliminating barriers to participation, can we successfully remove stigma and effectively make way for equal opportunity.
“There are always more families we can serve and more we can do to ensure that all eligible students are being fed through school meal programs.”