First in a two-part series this week on access to healthy school meals. The pandemic has put a spotlight on food insecurity, including access to healthy meals in public schools. In North Dakota, community organizers warn about possible changes to nutritional standards for these meals. .
January saw some Minnesota schools move back to distance learning because of COVID-19 cases. Families struggling to find their kids meals in these scenarios are urged to use available aid, while policymakers face pressure to remove food barriers beyond the crisis. States like Minnesota opted to carry out an extra form of federal relief for when schools shift to remote learning. .
Supply-chain issues, inflation and job loss during the pandemic have put many families food security at risk. In New Hampshire, food insecurity remains higher than pre-pandemic levels, and recent census surveys show 7% of households are considered food insecure, and the number jumps to 8% for households with children. Jessica Gorhan, deputy director of New Hampshire Hunger Solutions, said the Granite State could do a much better job at utilizing federal nutrition dollars for programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the one for Women, Infants and Children. .