Staff at the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank are bracing for an influx in demand as thousands of federal workers are expected to soon go without a paycheck.
The California Local School Wellness Policy Collaborative is hosting Winning at Wellness webinars every two months to provide an opportunity for schools to discuss updates in local school wellness policy requirements, best practices and resources.
Sameea Kamal | CalMatters
District employees prepare boxes filled with breakfast, lunch and snacks for Oakland Unified students at La Escuelita on June 7, 2021. Families can request or pick up one box per child enrolled in district schools. Photo Credit: Anne Wernikoff / CalMatters by ElObservador 06/11/2021
Early in the pandemic, the only source of milk for some struggling families was from school lunches, recalls Stacy Johnson, director of nutrition services at Glendora Unified School District.
Even for families who weren’t as strained financially or for families of picky eaters getting meals during lockdown was something to get excited about: A chance to get out of the house, and to see teachers and friends.
Legislators want to spend $650 million a year to continue a pandemic program for free meals for all California public school students. The proposal will be decided in budget talks this week.
Ali Tadayon/Edsource
At the start of the pandemic, Crespi Middle School teacher Sierra Barton volunteered to pass out food at West Contra Costa Unified s Pinole Valley High School.
Ali Tadayon/Edsource
At the start of the pandemic, Crespi Middle School teacher Sierra Barton volunteered to pass out food at West Contra Costa Unified s Pinole Valley High School.
April 8, 2021
As students gradually return to classrooms, advocates and lawmakers say it’s more important than ever to provide free meals in schools without burdensome eligibility requirements, just as California has done during the pandemic.
The “Free School Meals For All” bill, SB 364, introduced last month by East Bay Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, would establish a statewide Universal Meal Plan starting in the 2022-2023 school year. It would guarantee free breakfast and lunch for all California students and eliminate the application process that proved a barrier to many families. Though New York City, Chicago