School Meals
School meals is one of the farthest reaching anti-hunger programs for families with school-aged children in the United States. School food reliably provides children with the nutrients they need to learn, grow, and stay healthy. We see unencumbered access to school meals as a fundamental, health and education equity issue.
CFA is committed to ensuring that all students have access to free school meals. Universal free school meals directly counteracts the poverty stigma of participating in school meals and results in more children eating, leading to stronger health and wellbeing, and better educational outcomes.
In addition to campaigning for universal free school meals, we advocate for policies, initiatives, and innovations that drive toward a vision of making school food the most enjoyable, welcoming and student-centered experience possible.
NYC Lunch 4 Learning
In 2013, CFA launched the Lunch 4 Learning (L4L) campaign to bring universal free school lunch* to all public school students in NYC, the nation’s largest school district.
CFA has built a uniquely diverse coalition representing young people, public school parents, unions, academics, and grassroots, anti-hunger, public health, and education groups.
Since achieving free school meals for all NYC students in 2017, Lunch 4 Learning partners continue to advocate for programmatic and infrastructure improvements including halal and kosher meals, cafeteria redesign, and creative communications.
*Breakfast has been free for all NYC students since the 2003-2004 school year, thanks to the advocacy of CFA’s co-founders.
Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids
Drawing on CFA’s experience advocating for free school meals in NYC and coalition-building expertise, CFA has partnered with Hunger Solutions New York to lead the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMFA) campaign.
At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, more than 726,000 students in nearly 2,000 schools across the state lost access to free school meals when pandemic-era waivers expired. New York State must establish and fund a permanent, statewide HSMFA program to ensure all students have the healthy food they need to learn and thrive.
HSMFA’s diverse and growing coalition calls on New York State to ensure all children in our state have access to healthy school meals at no cost.