Nutritious meals contribute to the overall health, development and school readiness of young children and youth. In Rochester’s public schools, 70% of students are enrolled in the free lunch program and only a fraction of them are given that same access to meals when school is not in session. After-school and summer programs that serve children in low-income areas ensure that they can continue to receive nutritious meals when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast.
This year, funding for The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), State Administrative Expenses (SAE), and the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2010.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 calls for re-authorization funding that:
- Provides an additional $4.5 billion to child-nutrition programs over the next 10 years
- Calls for the creation of new nutrition standards for all food served in schools, from lunchrooms to vending machines
For the full bill text - http://ag.senate.gov/Legislation/FULLCNB10.pdf