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#NJVotes4Kids promotes school breakfastExpanding school breakfast is a top priority in Advocates for Children of New Jersey’s #NJVotes4Kids campaign. New Jersey’s 2017 races for governor and the Legislature present a prime opportunity to engage with candidates and put kids’ issues at the forefront of their agenda. Children can’t vote. They have no political influence. That’s why we need caring people like you to speak up for kids and make their needs heard. There's still time to register for our ACNJ's 2017 Children's Summit tomorrow. View ACNJ’s Election Advocacy Toolkit. Despite federal nutrition programs, too many kids go hungryThree out of four educators see students who regularly come to school hungry because they are not getting enough to eat at home, according to a new No Kid Hungry report. That’s why it is critical for schools and communities to tap into federal child nutrition programs, like school breakfast, summer meals and afterschool meals, to ensure that all children have the nutrition they need to concentrate and learn. Below is more information about how schools and communities can maximize their use of these federal dollars to feed hungry kids. Start serving afterschool meals in your communityThe Afterschool Nutrition Programs provide federal funding to serve nutritious meals and snacks to children and teens at schools, community and recreation centers and other sites that offer educational and enrichment activities when the school day ends, including on weekends and during school holidays. With the new school year underway, it is the perfect time to implement or expand afterschool programs. How to easily move from afterschool snack to mealFunding is now available to serve a meal at programs that operate after school, on weekends and during school holidays. The Afterschool Meal Program through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides dollars for any program located in a low-income area. Funds can be used for supper in afterschool programs and appropriate meals for those programs operating on weekends and during school holidays. Educators say breakfast after the bell works for kidsResearch solidly demonstrates that school breakfast programs improve students' academic performance and health. But what does that look like in real life? Hear from educators and advocates on the front lines about how school breakfast works for their students. Bridgeton serves up mobile summer mealsShout out to Bridgeton City and Mayor Albert Kelly for serving mobile meals to children this summer. This is an effective, innovative way to reach children who cannot, for various reasons, travel to summer meal sites. We encourage more communities to follow Brigdeton's lead. Have a summer meals success you'd like to share? E-mail Nancy Parello at nparello@acnj.org with details. |
The Food for Thought Campaign is a partnership of the New Jersey Departments of Agriculture and Education, child advocates, anti-hunger and health organizations, statewide education associations and national organizations. |
Advocates for Children of New Jersey |
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