This commentary is by Cathy Davis of Jericho, board president of Hunger Free Vermont, and 15 businesses and organizations, listed below, signed on to this commentary.
Vermont families with children were five times more likely to experience hunger in 2021, according to a survey from the University of Vermont. And as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact income and long-term savings, kids’ nutrition is attended to for many at one place — school.
As the pandemic spread, the federal government stepped in with waivers that allowed all children to eat breakfast and lunch at school at no cost to their families. These waivers are set to expire in June, and childhood hunger is still a constant threat for far too many Vermonters.
Why are we thinking of taking food away from our kids when they still need it?
Vermont’s House Education Committee is digging into a bill, H.32, that would require all schools to offer two meals per day to every student, without charge, making school meals an educational expense, as they should be.
We hope the committee and all legislators will support that bill.
You may ask, “How do free breakfast and lunches for Vermont students impact the economy, business community, and myself?” The answer is simple: Kids who are well-fed can more easily develop, grow and learn.
By empowering them to sit in class without hunger pangs and brain fog, we are helping students succeed in their studies and to eventually join — and lead — Vermont’s workforce.
As business owners, we are looking for every edge we can find these days. Being able to recruit workers into Vermont by telling them their kids get a great education here, and they will be fed and focused because our schools provide healthy meals, is a significant benefit. These meals — which include many local foods — are available to every student, every day, and would make a difference for our businesses.
When parents or guardians aren’t stressed about getting their kids’ meals packed in the morning, or remembering to charge up their school meals accounts, one important item is lifted from their own plates.
And when our Vermont students are treated equitably, and don’t have to face stigma in the cafeteria, they can learn better and focus on following their passions, making them more likely to succeed at school and later the workforce.
Universal school meals are good for students, good for business, and good for Vermont — we hope the Vermont Legislature will enact it this year.
We invite you to add your name to the list of businesses and organizations who have signed on in support of universal school meals.
Signing on to this commentary:
The Abbey Group, Enosburg Falls
The Alchemist, Stowe
Cabot Creamery, Waitsfield
City Market Onion River Co-op, Burlington
Clean Yield Asset Management, Norwich
CW Creative, Barre
Forward Philanthropy, Montpelier
Grass Cattle Company, Charlotte
Groennfell Meadery, St. Albans
Hotel Vermont, Burlington
King Arthur Baking, Norwich
Lake Champlain Chamber
Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, Middlebury
National Life Group, Montpelier
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
