“On Saturday President Biden signed into law the Keep Kids Fed Act, passed by Congress last Friday. The Keep Kids Fed Act extends some of the federal Child Nutrition Program waivers set to expire on June 30, provides increased reimbursements next school year to help school meal programs contend with skyrocketing food costs, and continues critical reimbursement rate increases for childcare providers.

It also extends waivers that eased eligibility restrictions on summer meal programs for children that have been in effect for the past two summers, and continues to allow some nutrition standard and meal service flexibilities for schools and childcare providers in the face of ongoing supply chain disruptions and pandemic uncertainties.

The Keep Kids Fed Act does not extend the federal universal school meal waivers through next school year, as anti-hunger and child welfare advocates across the country have urged.”

“Before the pandemic, there was no room in the budget for Kate Murphy’s children to buy lunch at school. She and her husband would buy in bulk and make bag lunches at home. So the free school meals that were made available to students nationwide amid the crisis have brought welcome relief, especially since her husband lost his job last year at a bakery company that closed.”

“School is out for the summer, and summer meal sites are starting to pop up around the state — giving students access to nutritious meals while not in school.

Lots of Vermont families rely on school breakfast and lunch for nutritious meals for their students. Over the summer, summer meal programs around the state can make accessing that same type of food easier.”

“During the pandemic, a federal program granted kids nationwide free breakfast and lunch. But that program was set to expire at the end of June. That’s when the decision was moved to the States. In early May, Vermont State Legislators passed a bill that would keep these meals free for students. The bill arrived at Vermont Governor Phil Scott’s desk last week, and he signed the bill Tuesday.

“Anytime we can take away stigma, take away who has a different laptop or different materials in a classroom and just make things community resources, it’s good for everyone,” says Erin Brady, the State Representative from Williston, VT. “It’s good for students who have a lot of needs and kids who don’t have a lot of needs.”

“I’m thrilled,” says Anore Horton, the Executive Director of Hunger Free Vermont. “All of us are really thrilled. This has been a vision at Hunger Free Vermont for many years to make sure every single student all across our state has access to two nutritious meals every day.””

“WEST LEBANON — Universal meals, which have made school meals free for most students in the Twin States amid the pandemic, are ending June 30 in New Hampshire, and the future remains uncertain in Vermont.

While the free meals allowed through federal waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have lasted, they’ve driven up participation in school meal programs in both states.

“The implementation of universal meals has been a valuable resource to our community,” Mascoma Valley Regional School District Superintendent Amanda Isabelle said. “It has allowed our students to receive meals regardless of socioeconomic status. It has also taken away the stigma of being a ‘free lunch kid.’.”