Child Nutrition Newsletter: New Reports, Upcoming Webinars, and More! |
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Spring is here and many are preparing to reach more kids with the nutrition they need during the summer months and into the next school year! This newsletter includes a blog post on the latest report from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), upcoming webinars, program updates, and more. |
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New Report: Decline in New York School Meals Participation Signals Urgent Need to Provide Free School Meals for All Students Participation in school meals decreased across New York State in the 2022–2023 school year, according to a new report released by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). This drop in school meal participation in New York aligns with trends observed in states across the country. Still, the report notes a striking exception: States that funded and implemented state-level policies sustaining universal free school meals saw increases in participation. |
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Call to Action: Elevate #Meals4AllNY on Social Media This is a critical time to show strong, grassroots support for Healthy School Meals for All as final budget negotiations are underway. Use our social media toolkit for sample posts to promote our new blog post and call for full funding for statewide universal school meals in the final enacted budget. |
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Join Our Webinar Co-hosted with No Kid Hungry New York: “Lessons for Launching Breakfast After the Bell: A Panel Discussion with NYS School Nutrition Directors” Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 10 AM Learn ways to expand access to school breakfast in the upcoming school year by joining us for a panel discussion with NYS school nutrition directors focused on key considerations for launching Breakfast After the Bell (BAB). This discussion will highlight how our panelists have navigated challenges to getting BAB programming off the ground and remain sustainable over time. |
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Questions? Contact School Meals Policy and Engagement Specialist Francesca DiGiorgio at Francesca.DiGiorgio@HungerSolutionsNY.org. Can’t make it? Register anyway to receive the recording and follow up resources. |
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ATTN Summer Meal Sponsors: Take Our Survey! Our new survey is open to sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) until Friday, May 3. This survey features an opportunity for SFSP sponsors to review and update contact information so it’s accurately reflected in our upcoming 2024 Sponsor Directory—see the 2023 Sponsor Directory for reference. Hunger Solutions New York uses this directory to connect new potential sites with existing sponsors. |
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Upcoming Summer Meal Sponsor Deadlines from NYSED The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) sponsor application deadlines are May 1 for new sponsors and June 1 for experienced sponsors. View NYSED's announcement for more information about the application process. |
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CEP State Subsidy and Farm-to-School Incentive Funding Fix The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and State Education Department jointly issued new guidance for schools that participate in the New York 30% Farm to School Incentive Program and are receiving funding through the state’s CEP Subsidy. This memo clarifies that all schools will now receive the full Farm to School incentive reimbursement they are entitled to for reaching the program’s purchasing benchmark from New York farmers and producers. Hunger Solutions New York is pleased to see administering state agencies working together to ensure school meal investments complement each other, rather than compete. |
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Add Meals to Your Afterschool Programming Through CACFP’s At-Risk Afterschool Snack/Supper component, eligible afterschool programs can serve healthy meals and snacks after school, on weekends, and during holiday breaks throughout the school year. While many schools already serve afterschool snacks through NSLP, CACFP provides an opportunity to provide greater nutrition for students and 4x the reimbursement for schools when providing a complete meal. To be eligible for CACFP, the afterschool program must be located within the attendance area of a school where 50% or more of the students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Visit AfterschoolMealsNY.org to learn more about eligibility and how to apply. For individualized help, reach out to Cody Bloomfield, Afterschool and Summer Meals Specialist, at Cody.Bloomfield@HungerSolutionsNY.org. |
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