The School Meals For All Coalition consists of more than <a href="https://www.schoolmealsforall.org/partners/">130+ organizations representing education, health and agriculture.</a>

Our Partners

<a class="d-flex mx-auto mt-3 mt-lg-0" href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:2682b9e2-05ed-4364-a706-689789e016f5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-868" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/smfa-coalition-2.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="622" /></a>
<a style="color: #179240;" href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:2682b9e2-05ed-4364-a706-689789e016f5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read The Full Letter Here</a>
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March 16, 2026
Dear Senate President pro Tempore Limón, Assembly Speaker Rivas, Senate Budget Committee Chair Laird, Assembly Budget Committee Chair Gabriel, Senate Budget Subcommittee Chair Pérez, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chair Alvarez, Senate Budget Subcommittee Chair Hurtado, and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chair Bennett, 
The undersigned 225+ School Meals for All Coalition members are writing to express our strong support for critical school nutrition programs in the 2026–27 FY California budget. We thank the Legislature for your consistent leadership and continued support for California’s first-in-the-nation School Meals for All program. Transforming the school food system is complex and benefits from multiple proven policies to improve student access to and the quality of school meals, food education, kitchen infrastructure, connections to local farmers, and training and career development for school nutrition professionals. Together, these complementary policies and investments create an ecosystem of support that can accomplish so much more for California’s students and the people who nourish them.
We are grateful for the inclusion of $1.87 billion in funding for School Meals for All, $100 million for Kitchen Infrastructure and Training, $25.2 million ongoing for the Farm to School Grant program, and $14.3 million for California’s Healthy School Food Pathway program in the Governor’s proposed January budget. We respectfully ask that you support these proposed investments and advocate for their inclusion in the finalized budget.
<a style="color: #179240;" href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:2682b9e2-05ed-4364-a706-689789e016f5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read The Full Letter Here</a>

225+ Organizations Support Funding for School Meals for All along with complementary investments in Kitchen Infrastructure and Training, Farm to School, and California Healthy School Food Pathway programs in the 2026-27 CA Budget

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-434 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/smfa-kit-meal-serve-web-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/smfa-kit-meal-serve-web-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/smfa-kit-meal-serve-web-300x200.jpg 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/smfa-kit-meal-serve-web-768x512.jpg 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/smfa-kit-meal-serve-web-600x400.jpg 600w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/smfa-kit-meal-serve-web.jpg 1400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Supporting the strong foundation established by School Meals for All (SMFA), California&#8217;s Kitchen Infrastructure and Training (KIT) program continues to increase student access to and the quality of school meals, especially as many families struggle with affordability. Before School Meals for All, <a href="https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/universal-school-meals-help-all-california-children-thrive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">44% of California&#8217;s food insecure families</a> did not qualify for federal school meal assistance because income limits are set nationally and do not take into account California&#8217;s high cost of living. These investments, through the California State Budget, have helped schools improve school kitchen infrastructure and staff training, rising to the challenge of serving students high quality meals with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients each and every day.
A survey of 245 school districts conducted through collaboration by co-founders of the SMFA Coalition—the Office of Kat Taylor, the Center for Ecoliteracy, NextGen California, and the California Association of Food Banks—demonstrates the broad impact of KIT funds on schools, and the need for additional funding.
Key results from this survey and subsequent interviews include:
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<li>86% of school districts have spent between 76-100% of their 2022 KIT funds<a id="ref1" href="#note1">1</a></li>
<li>90% of school districts reported KIT increased student access to and/or quality of school meals<a id="ref2" href="#note2">2</a></li>
<li>77% of school districts need more KIT funds to improve access to quality school meals</li>
<li>Many school nutrition leaders reported in interviews that KIT benefited their school nutrition workforce</li>
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The full survey report can be found here: <a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/kit-survey-results-dec-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download Report</a>
The 245 public school districts and charter schools that responded to the survey enroll 2.1 million students across 3,929 schools and served around 362 million school meals last year, which amounts to 37% of all school meals served statewide. These school districts are from every region of the state and range from urban school districts with tens of thousands of students to suburban mid-size school districts to smaller rural school districts with fewer than 100 students.
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1 In CDE&#8217;s prior surveys with hundreds of school nutrition leaders, most of the pending expenditures centered around large-scale school kitchen remodels and included factors such as delays at the Department of State Architects, the need to schedule construction for the summer months, and coordination with school construction timelines. <a href="#ref1">↩</a>
2 At the remaining 10% of school districts, many wrote in to say that they had projects underway that they anticipated would increase quality and/or access once complete. Others focused their investments on staff training and improving working conditions for the school nutrition workforce (e.g., by repairing broken equipment and improving the flow in cramped school kitchens). One charter school commented that the equipment they had purchased with KIT funds was lost in the LA fires. <a href="#ref2">↩</a>

Survey Finds that KIT Improves School Meal Access and Quality

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-431 size-large" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/naomi-shadwell-left-asm-patel-middle-and-mission-hills-high-school-student-right--1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/naomi-shadwell-left-asm-patel-middle-and-mission-hills-high-school-student-right--1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/naomi-shadwell-left-asm-patel-middle-and-mission-hills-high-school-student-right--300x225.jpg 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/naomi-shadwell-left-asm-patel-middle-and-mission-hills-high-school-student-right--768x576.jpg 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/naomi-shadwell-left-asm-patel-middle-and-mission-hills-high-school-student-right--1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/naomi-shadwell-left-asm-patel-middle-and-mission-hills-high-school-student-right--600x450.jpg 600w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/naomi-shadwell-left-asm-patel-middle-and-mission-hills-high-school-student-right-.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> 
November 18, 2025
Christine Lee, Public Information Officer 
San Marcos Unified School District
SAN MARCOS, CA — November 18, 2025 — Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (CA Assembly District 76), visited Mission Hills High School today to observe firsthand the positive impact of California’s Universal School Meals Program, often referred to as School Meals for All (SMFA). The visit provided a clear demonstration of how the program successfully nourishes students, boosts their well-being, and fosters a conducive and healthy learning environment for all.
Assemblymember Patel was joined by San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) leadership, including Superintendent Dr. Andy Johnsen and Executive Director of Child Nutrition Services Naomi Shadwell, alongside representatives from the School Meals for All Coalition.
The visit commenced with a comprehensive tour of Mission Hills High School’s Child Nutrition Services (CNS) kitchen, where Assemblymember Patel and the delegation observed the bustling operations and meticulous preparation involved in serving thousands of nutritious meals daily. Naomi Shadwell provided insights into the culinary processes and the team&#8217;s commitment to providing high-quality, appealing meals for students.
“It was inspiring to see firsthand the dedication of the staff at Mission Hills High School to provide delicious high quality food and the positive impact of the School Meals for All program on our students,” said Assemblymember Patel. “Ensuring every child has access to nutritious food is fundamental to their learning and well-being, and California’s commitment to this program is making a real difference in communities like San Marcos.”
Following the CNS kitchen tour, the delegation visited the school’s culinary arts kitchen, meeting culinary teacher Sadie Rose and learning about the hands-on educational experiences offered to students. The visit concluded with Assemblymember Patel and school leadership enjoying lunch alongside students, fostering direct engagement and conversation about their school meal experience.
Dr. Andy Johnsen, Superintendent of San Marcos Unified School District, expressed his appreciation for the visit: “We were honored to host Assemblymember Patel and showcase how the School Meals for All program is thriving in the San Marcos Unified School District. This program is critical for our students, not only providing essential nutrition but also fostering a supportive and equitable learning environment for all.”
Naomi Shadwell, Executive Director of Child Nutrition Services, added, “Our child nutrition team works tirelessly every day to prepare healthy and appealing meals for our students. Having Assemblymember Patel witness the behind-the-scenes effort and see the students enjoying their lunches was incredibly rewarding. We are proud to be part of a program that ensures no child in our district goes hungry.”
The School Meals for All program ensures that all California public school students have access to two free meals each school day, regardless of family income. This program helps to reduce food insecurity, improve student health and academic performance, and alleviate financial 
burdens on families.
Attendees also included founding members of the School Meals for All coalition, Abby Halperin, Senior Policy and Evaluation Manager for the Center for Ecoliteracy, and Grace-Sonia Melanio, Director of External Affairs for the Office of Kat Taylor, who underscored the statewide importance of the program.
“Thanks to California’s leadership on School Meals for All, today’s fourth graders have never had to worry about whether they had enough lunch money to be able to eat,” said Abby Halperin. “In a state where 44% of our food-insecure families do not qualify for federal school meal benefits, School Meals for All makes sure all students have the nourishment they need to learn.”
&#8220;What we witnessed today at Mission Hills High School underscores the immense financial relief School Meals for All provides to families every single day,&#8221; said Grace-Sonia Melanio. &#8220;In a time of rising costs, ensuring children receive free, nutritious meals alleviates significant pressure on household budgets, allowing parents to reallocate those funds to rent, utilities, or other essential family needs.&#8221;
Pictures from the visit <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aNtRv3j3uXQ9ff0t2P7wNBn75IGVQn9w?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can be accessed here</a>.
About San Marcos Unified School District: The San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) serves more than 18,000 students across 19 schools in North County San Diego with a steadfast commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and future-ready learning. With a focus on building strong relationships and providing opportunities for every learner, SMUSD offers rigorous instructional programs, award-winning schools, and comprehensive support services designed to meet the diverse needs of its students and families. The district is committed to ongoing growth, responsible stewardship of public resources, and preparing every student to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Learn more at <a href="https://www.smusd.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.smusd.org</a>.
About Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel: Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel represents California’s 76th Assembly District. A former scientist and local school board member, Assemblymember Patel is committed to advocating for education, public health, and environmental sustainability, ensuring that all Californians have the opportunity to thrive. About the Center for Ecoliteracy: The Center for Ecoliteracy is reimagining school food as a pathway for learning and change. For 30 years, we’ve transformed education in classrooms, cafeterias, and gardens — partnering with hundreds of school districts, supporting thousands of educators, and ensuring millions of children have access to nutritious meals at school. Our core initiative, California Food for California Kids®, inspires schools to serve fresh, locally-sourced meals and engage students in the connections between food, culture, health, and the environment. Together, we can build a healthier, more hopeful future for our children. Visit <a href="https://ecoliteracy.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ecoliteracy.org</a>.
About the Office of Kat Taylor: The Office of Kat Taylor (OKT) is a social impact team dedicated to working in service of restoring social justice and environmental well-being to build a more equitable and inclusive world. As a co-sponsor of California’s School Meals for All (SMFA) initiative, OKT united over 200 partner organizations to bridge a critical hunger gap for families. OKT continues to champion policies and legislation that support California schools in serving freshly-prepared, locally grown meals to advance the health and wellness of all children. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.kattaylor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kattaylor.com</a>.

Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel Witnesses Success of School Meals for All Program at San Marcos Unified’s Mission Hills High School

Jennifer LeBarre, Interim Senior Executive Director, Operations, Supporting Student Nutrition Services &amp; Transportation for the San Francisco Unified School District
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-417 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-balboa-high.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="427" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-balboa-high.jpeg 640w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-balboa-high-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-balboa-high-600x400.jpeg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
By the time they graduate, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) seniors will have spent over 13,000 hours in our schools learning, socializing and, thankfully, eating. Every day, SFUSD’s Student Nutrition Services team works to ensure students get the nutrition they need to learn and grow.
In 2022, California transformed school nutrition programs by adopting School Meals for All. 
School Meals for All is exactly what it sounds like. Every public school student can enjoy school breakfast and lunch for free, no paperwork required. But this simple premise has revolutionized school nutrition in San Francisco and shown the good that can come from well-designed policies. Last week, despite a state budget deficit, our state leaders held true to this commitment and the legislature passed full funding for the program in the 2024-2025 state budget.
We think of schools as places of learning, but they also serve as key meal providers for children. During the school year, SFUSD serves over <a href="https://www.sfusd.edu/departments/student-nutrition-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">37,000 meals</a> per day at 136 schools across San Francisco. For some students, these may be their only meals of the day. As over one in four California families with children face <a href="https://www.cafoodbanks.org/food-insecurity-data/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food insecurity</a>, there is an acute need for programs that assist kids where they’re at most. Through this lens, schools are more than hubs of academia, and School Meals for All serves as a first line of defense against poverty.
The federal National School Lunch Program provides free or reduced-price meals to students from families whose incomes border the <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-02-09/pdf/2023-02739.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal poverty line</a>. But this program doesn’t account for California’s high cost of living. In San Francisco, where a family of four living on nearly $150,000 annually is considered <a href="https://www.hcd.ca.gov/sites/default/files/docs/grants-and-funding/income-limits-2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low-income</a>, too many children are ineligible for a program they desperately need.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-414 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-2076.png" alt="" width="640" height="480" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-2076.png 640w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-2076-300x225.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-2076-600x450.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
The difference since California’s School Meals for All program began is night and day. The additional state funding supports our schools to source local, nutritious produce and craft delicious meals that our students love, and has decreased SFUSD’s nutrition department’s general fund reliance by $2 million. I can only imagine what this program means to other school districts throughout the state, particularly those that are underserved and underfunded. The ability to feed every hungry student, regardless of their background, makes every dollar invested worthwhile.
Most importantly, School Meals for All is helping students thrive. From October 2019 to October 2023, school meal participation at SFUSD increased 14% at breakfast and 4% at lunch. Studies show a correlation between school meal participation and positive physical and mental health outcomes for students. Kids who eat school meals are <a href="https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/School-Meals-are-Essential-Health-and-Learning_FNL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more likely</a> to consume nutrient-rich foods at breakfast and lunch, while also making <a href="https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/School-Meals-are-Essential-Health-and-Learning_FNL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fewer visits</a> to the school nurse. On top of that, school meal participation is linked to <a href="https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/School-Meals-are-Essential-Health-and-Learning_FNL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improved learning</a> and class attendance.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-415 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-3011.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="427" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-3011.jpeg 640w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-3011-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-3011-600x400.jpeg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
The change I’ve enjoyed seeing the most is less stigma around eating school meals. Before, there was shame associated with school breakfast and lunch. Classmates would pass judgments that lingered with some kids all the way through adulthood, where they would end up refusing to complete their own child’s school meal paperwork out of fear they&#8217;d be ridiculed. School Meals for All has transformed the cafeteria experience. Kids of all backgrounds are ecstatic to enjoy a delicious school lunch with their friends.
I am proud to serve a critical role in the growth and development of San Francisco’s youth, and proud to live in a state that is making investments our kids deserve. I applaud state leaders for continuing to lead the way on school nutrition and understand the significant improvements it’s made for school staff, teachers, administrators, families and children. These meals aren’t just small potatoes, they are crucial to the wellbeing of students in San Francisco and beyond.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-416 size-thumbnail" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-jennifer-lebarre-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-jennifer-lebarre-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-jennifer-lebarre-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/smfa-sfusd-jennifer-lebarre.jpeg 480w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Jennifer LeBarre serves as the Interim Senior Executive Director, Operations, Supporting Student Nutrition Services &amp; Transportation for the San Francisco Unified School District. She has over 30 years of school nutrition experience that spans from the elementary to college-level.

Why School Meals for All is Essential for San Francisco Students

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-409" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-05-02-at-1.03.09-PM.png" alt="" width="1776" height="1244" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-05-02-at-1.03.09-PM.png 1776w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-05-02-at-1.03.09-PM-300x210.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-05-02-at-1.03.09-PM-1024x717.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-05-02-at-1.03.09-PM-768x538.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-05-02-at-1.03.09-PM-1536x1076.png 1536w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-05-02-at-1.03.09-PM-600x420.png 600w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-05-02-at-1.03.09-PM-1600x1121.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1776px) 100vw, 1776px" />
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The program is crucial to the health of many kids and is vitally important to their families
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<div class="author-name">By <a class="link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/people/u-t-readers" aria-label="U-T Readers" data-click="standardBylineAuthorName">U-T Readers</a></div>
<div><a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2024-05-01/parent-of-student-urges-state-lawmakers-not-to-cut-free-school-lunch-program">Originally posted on the San Diego Union Tribune</a></div>
<div>May 1, 2024 5:30 AM PT</div>
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<div><a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2024-05-01/parent-of-student-urges-state-lawmakers-not-to-cut-free-school-lunch-program">Re: “Much-needed free school meals program must be preserved by state government” (April 15)</a></div>
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&#8220;As a parent of a Poway High School student, I wholeheartedly support the California state government’s free school meals program for our students. This program has taken stress off of my and many other parents’ backs. It has provided essential nutrition to children, but also helped families struggling to provide this on their own. No child should have to worry about where their next meal will come from, and this program ensures that our kids have access to healthy food during the school day.
Preserving the free school meals program is not just a matter of convenience; it is a matter of social responsibility. By ensuring that all students have access to nutritious meals, we are investing in their health, well-being and academic success. As a concerned parent, l urge our state government to continue supporting this program for the benefit of our children, our teachers and our community.&#8221;
— Olivia Digenan, Poway, California
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Parent of student urges state lawmakers not to cut free school lunch program

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-401" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-16-at-11.51.01-AM.png" alt="" width="1286" height="850" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-16-at-11.51.01-AM.png 1286w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-16-at-11.51.01-AM-300x198.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-16-at-11.51.01-AM-1024x677.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-16-at-11.51.01-AM-768x508.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-16-at-11.51.01-AM-600x397.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1286px) 100vw, 1286px" />
<div class="figure-caption" aria-hidden="true">Michael Bates leads the lunch line at Cherokee Point Elementary School in City Heights. (Earnie Grafton/San Diego Union-Tribune)</div>
<a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2024-04-15/opinion-free-school-meals-program-helps-kids-who-need-it-most">Originally posted by The San Diego Union Tribune</a>
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<div class="author-name">By Robert Fellmeth</div>
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April 15, 2024 6:38 PM PT
Robert Fellmeth is the executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Institute and Price Professor of Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego and lives in San Diego.
We don’t get a second chance to raise a child. Ask any doctor and they will tell you that if a growing child is deprived of nutritious food for too long, this deprivation will follow them into adulthood, permanently harming their mental and physical well-being.
With this understanding, California enacted the visionary School Meals for All program in 2021, to ensure that every student regardless of income can eat a nutritious lunch and breakfast each day at school. By any measure, it has been a huge success. New data from the <a class="link" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.fns.usda.gov/data/child-nutrition-dashboard__;!!BupLon6U!vqzIR-b_CdeJjUt6C5Ya2w3K4WCa_MRTWZqNuzTnjRECQm-zM2jQDdy8I4ZbjTIV9QWFNN7wG38tJxq5PH9LEoA$" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a> shows that California students’ participation in school meals outperforms national trends.
However, with the <a class="link" href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article285710851.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state facing a budget deficit of $73 billion</a>, some in Sacramento are suggesting imposing bureaucratic financial screening requirements on parents to try to save money by limiting school meals only to the so-called “neediest” children.
Superficially, this might seem like a reasonable way to prioritize the program so it benefits those children who need it most. In the real world, however, not only will such paperwork not work, but it will also cruelly backfire. Imposing bureaucratic paperwork requirements on parents as a prerequisite for their children qualifying for school meals will inevitably result in our most vulnerable children, including those without homes, those from families whose parents are battling addiction and children of families who lack permanent legal status, going hungry.
Here’s why it will backfire. Our poorest families whose children most need a nutritious breakfast and lunch every day are living on the streets, in shelters, or in cars. They don’t have printers to print out forms. They don’t have computers to fill out PDFs and send them online. They don’t have stamps for mailing. They can’t get across town to talk to a government employee to plead their case. They may not speak or read English.
And our most precarious children — children of parents struggling not just with poverty but also with addiction or mental illness — are powerless to insist their parents fill out and submit forms.
Consider, too, that families who lack permanent legal statuswill not risk submitting more government forms that could be used by federal immigration officers. Indeed, health care advocates know that it is too common for such families to delay even critical emergency room care because they fear the consequences. This is particularly true in the San Diego area, where approximately <a class="link" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/statistics_demographics.html*:*:text=Approximately*2021.5*25*20of*20the*20county's,assimilate*20into*20their*20new*20environment__;I34lJSUlJSUlJSU!!BupLon6U!vqzIR-b_CdeJjUt6C5Ya2w3K4WCa_MRTWZqNuzTnjRECQm-zM2jQDdy8I4ZbjTIV9QWFNN7wG38tJxq5x4Z7ElE$" target="_blank" rel="noopener">21.5 percent of the county’s</a> population are immigrants, including refugees, and <a class="link" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.sandiegohungercoalition.org/research*:*:text=1*20in*204*20people*20in,themselves*20and*2For*20their*20families.__;I34lJSUlJSUlJQ!!BupLon6U!vqzIR-b_CdeJjUt6C5Ya2w3K4WCa_MRTWZqNuzTnjRECQm-zM2jQDdy8I4ZbjTIV9QWFNN7wG38tJxq5s5EYvC4$" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in four</a> people are experiencing hunger, according to estimates from the San Diego Hunger Coalition.
But that’s not all. Using income cut-offs will also exclude many children whose parents live just about the federal income threshold but who still urgently need food. For instance, despite San Diego being ranked as one of the <a class="link" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.axios.com/2023/11/09/lowest-highest-cost-of-living-cities-us-map__;!!BupLon6U!vqzIR-b_CdeJjUt6C5Ya2w3K4WCa_MRTWZqNuzTnjRECQm-zM2jQDdy8I4ZbjTIV9QWFNN7wG38tJxq5vc47Rtw$" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most expensive cities</a> in the country to live in, families of four do not qualify for free school meals from the federal program if their total income is over $39,000. Earning just one minimum wage full-time annual income in California would almost be enough to disqualify the children of such a family from free school meals.
The hard truth lawmakers in Sacramento need to hear is this: There is simply no way to impose bureaucratic school meal paperwork requirements on parents that verify their income that won’t also result in denying the absolute neediest, the absolute hungriest children the food they need when they need it the most — when they are growing up.
No child is directly or indirectly responsible for our budget deficit. They don’t have tax havens offshore. They don’t hire special interest lobbyists to get tax breaks or lower fees. They don’t vote in California elections. In any family, if there was a shortage of food, adults would sacrifice and the children would eat first. The same should be true of decisions in Sacramento.

Opinion: Much-needed free school meals program must be preserved by state government

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-391" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Screen-Shot-2024-03-13-at-11.24.48-AM.png" alt="" width="1594" height="900" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Screen-Shot-2024-03-13-at-11.24.48-AM.png 1594w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Screen-Shot-2024-03-13-at-11.24.48-AM-300x169.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Screen-Shot-2024-03-13-at-11.24.48-AM-1024x578.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Screen-Shot-2024-03-13-at-11.24.48-AM-768x434.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Screen-Shot-2024-03-13-at-11.24.48-AM-1536x867.png 1536w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Screen-Shot-2024-03-13-at-11.24.48-AM-600x339.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1594px) 100vw, 1594px" />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y9sBCZVyw2tWWVZtBjLAG7NNifDWpJX9/view?usp=sharing">Read the full letter here</a>
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March 13th, 2024
The Honorable Gavin Newsom 
Governor, State of California 
1021 O Street, Suite 9000 
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SUPPORT &#8211; Governor’s Proposal to Fully Fund School Meals for All in the 2024-25 Fiscal Year Budget
Dear Governor Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore McGuire, Assembly Speaker Rivas, Budget Committee Chairs Senator Wiener and Assemblymember Gabriel, and Budget Subcommittee Chairs Senator Laird and Assemblymember Alvarez,
The undersigned organizations are writing as the members of the 2024 School Meals for All Coalition to strongly support the Newsom Administration’s continued commitment to prioritize and protect school nutrition programs in the California Budget. We support the Administration&#8217;s thoughtful commitment to fully fund our state’s School Meals for All program in the January Budget proposal, especially during challenging economic times for California families. We strongly support the $122.2 million in funding for increased participation that will serve an estimated 845 million school meals in 2024–25. We respectfully urge the legislature to uphold this commitment to California’s legacy of safeguarding the health of our children by transforming school food.
California has been a national leader in the movement to provide free meals to all TK–12 public school students. This is due to a shared vision to fight child hunger with more freshly-prepared and California-grown school meals that benefit our state’s economy, its environment, and its students. To protect the progress towards this vision, we encourage you to uphold the ongoing commitments proposed in the January Budget that continue to fully fund School Meals for All. We also strongly support maintaining California’s state reimbursement of $0.9760 per meal. While other states struggle with decreased participation and concerns over the long-term financial sustainability of their school nutrition programs, more California students are choosing to participate in free school breakfasts and lunches, and fewer are going hungry. This is thanks to our state’s keen investments in students, schools, and school nutrition staff.
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y9sBCZVyw2tWWVZtBjLAG7NNifDWpJX9/view?usp=sharing">Read the full letter here.</a>

100+ Organizations Submit Letter Requesting California Legislature Protect School Meals for All in the State Budget

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-379" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.01.28-PM.png" alt="" width="467" height="371" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.01.28-PM.png 1388w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.01.28-PM-300x239.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.01.28-PM-1024x814.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.01.28-PM-768x611.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.01.28-PM-600x477.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px" />
Monterey County Weekly
Jan 18, 2024
ON THE LUNCH MENU ON A RECENT THURSDAY AT NORTH MONTEREY HIGH SCHOOL IN CASTROVILLE ARE A FEW OPTIONS: teriyaki chicken, a crispy chicken sandwich with spicy coleslaw, a chicken cobb salad or a ham and cheese sandwich on ciabatta, all served with a portion of veggies and fruit alongside.
It sounds more like a list of what you might find at a restaurant than a high school cafeteria. That is, if you’re comparing to the days of meatloaf or limp spaghetti, with just one option for all kids. In cafeterias of Salinas City Elementary and Monterey Peninsula Unified school districts, schools offer a salad bar loaded with fresh sliced cucumbers, lettuce, carrots and other vegetables to choose from – representing a different framework than in 1981, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service proposed counting relish or ketchup as a vegetable.
Since Barack Obama’s administration, there has been a switch to providing healthier – and tastier – food in schools. “School food service is the biggest restaurant chain in America. It’s bigger than McDonald’s, bigger than Starbucks,” says Sara Doherty, director of nutrition services and wellness at North Monterey County Unified School District.
Every day, NMCUSD serves an average of 5,500 meals including breakfast, lunch, snacks and supper. Salinas City Elementary School District serves 7,680 meals daily across 14 schools; and Monterey Peninsula Unified School District serves 11,000. (These are just three of Monterey County’s 24 school districts feeding students daily.)
California produces nearly half of the fruits and vegetables nationwide, yet 1 in 5 Californians are food insecure. These numbers are higher among Latino and Black Californians, 27.5 and 28.9 percent, respectively. Monterey County’s population is 60.8-percent Latino. The Salinas Valley is known as the Salad Bowl of the World, yet 40.8 percent of Monterey County residents are food insecure, according to the <a href="https://www.unitedwaymcca.org/sites/unitedwaymcca/files/Community%20Health%20Needs%20Collaborative/2022%20PRC%20CHNA%20Report%20-%20Monterey%20County%2C%20CA.pdf">2022 Community Health Needs Assessment</a>, produced by the four local hospital systems plus the Monterey County Health Department and United Way. Meanwhile, 18.4 percent of Monterey County children ages 0-17 live below the federal poverty level. And 42.7 percent of children ages 5-17 are considered obese or overweight.
All of these issues – poverty, nutrition and health – converge in official thinking about school lunch. Children need a balanced diet to develop their brains and bodies, and good nutrition is linked to academic achievement. According to data from the<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/health_and_academics/pdf/320889-B_FS_Dietary_Behaviors_508tag.pdf"> U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2019 national youth risk behavior survey,</a> students with higher grades eat breakfast, fruits and vegetables daily.
School cafeterias are becoming an increasingly central place where officials are attempting to solve these problems, by increasing accessibility of meals for free (addressing poverty and access to food) and making meals more nutritious. Across the country, schools are required to serve meals at no charge to children whose household income is at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
During the 2022-2023 school year, California became the first state to implement a statewide universal meals program for all students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. That means school lunch – as well as breakfast and supper – are now available to all students free of charge, regardless of income.
“It took away the stigma that was generally associated with school meals and eating at school,” says Micha James, MPUSD’s director of nutrition services. MPUSD, like other districts, has reported increased participation at all schools in the district – more kids are eating school lunch.
<a href="https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/cover/school-kitchens-are-transforming-to-provide[%e2%80%a6]kids/article_bd4c2710-b56e-11ee-b3b3-e30d89fe53e1.html">READ FULL ARTICLE HERE </a>
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School kitchens are transforming to provide higher-quality, healthier meals for kids

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-381" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.06.51-PM.png" alt="" width="1636" height="888" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.06.51-PM.png 1636w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.06.51-PM-300x163.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.06.51-PM-1024x556.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.06.51-PM-768x417.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.06.51-PM-1536x834.png 1536w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.06.51-PM-600x326.png 600w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-13-at-1.06.51-PM-1600x868.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1636px) 100vw, 1636px" />
SB 348 Protects Children’s Health, Aligns CA With Pediatrician-Recommended Guidelines for Added Sugar and Salt in School Meals
Sacramento – Governor Newsom has added his signature to SB 348 (Skinner), making California the first state in the nation to codify President Joe Biden’s new <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.fns.usda.gov/cn/proposed-updates-school-nutrition-standards__;!!BupLon6U!rWYtyCki85BobbIVEf-fcne9A1qtuxNX6j9hfUvG3HbNtIgO0WF9pS1W4Cep8XzhQ3KtURGvj-8VpCXcoLp2ZsTmWSJu6zJO$" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.fns.usda.gov/cn/proposed-updates-school-nutrition-standards__;!!BupLon6U!rWYtyCki85BobbIVEf-fcne9A1qtuxNX6j9hfUvG3HbNtIgO0WF9pS1W4Cep8XzhQ3KtURGvj-8VpCXcoLp2ZsTmWSJu6zJO$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1696953040842000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2fZzINToXrfinYsF9-J_HU">federal nutrition guidelines</a> aimed at reducing added salt and sugar in school meals. Enshrining the updated nutrition guidelines in state law means students across the state will have access to school meal options that meet pediatrician-recommended levels of added sugar and salt. This historic measure, which earned unanimous and bipartisan support of both the Senate and the Assembly, also explores best practices for ensuring students have adequate time to eat. 
“California was the first state to provide two free meals a day to all public school students, so it’s fitting that California is now the first state to ensure that school meals are healthy and don’t contribute to lifelong health problems,” said Sen. Skinner, D-Berkeley. “Gov. Newsom’s signing of SB 348 codifies President Biden’ standards so that California’s school meals will meet the nutrition guidelines for added sugar and salt recommended by America’s pediatricians, making California, once again, a national leader in the fight against diabetes and other health issues.”
 SB 348, also known as Healthy School Meals for All, builds on another landmark California law – authored by Sen. Skinner and established through the state budget in 2021 – which provides two free school meals for every student.  
 “Building a healthy future for California’s children starts with ensuring they have access to healthy meals at school every day,” said Mary Ann Bauman, M.D., President, Western States Board of Directors, American Heart Association. “Governor Newsom’s signature on SB 348 means California will provide students with better brain fuel through school meals that contain less sugar and sodium. Thanks to Senator Skinner’s leadership, access to healthy school meals that protect young people from diet-related conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity will be the standard in California for generations to come.”
“This is a victory not just for California kids but for everyone in this state,” said Becky Silva, director of government relations for the California Association of Food Banks. “This bill both strengthens the nutritional value of school meals and also ensures students have adequate time to eat those meals — inspiring kids to eat more fruits and vegetables to power their education. We are grateful for Senator Skinner’s unwavering commitment and steadfast leadership in getting this done.”
 “Healthy School Meals for All builds on Califorrnia’s first-in-the-nation universal school meals program by making sure every free meal students receive meets sugar and sodium standards recommended by pediatricians and nutrition experts,” said Kat Taylor, Co-founder, TomKat Ranch. “Thanks to Governor Newsom and Senator Skinner’s leadership, along with the support of the entire legislature, millions of children will have the opportunity to choose meals at school that support their life-long health, and success in the classroom and beyond.”
 Healthy School Meals for All enjoyed a broad and diverse coalition of support made up of nearly 160 organizations representing public health experts, agriculture, food aid, labor, and faith leaders – <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.healthyschoolmealsforallca.org/partners/__;!!BupLon6U!rWYtyCki85BobbIVEf-fcne9A1qtuxNX6j9hfUvG3HbNtIgO0WF9pS1W4Cep8XzhQ3KtURGvj-8VpCXcoLp2ZsTmWRPmVV3D$" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.healthyschoolmealsforallca.org/partners/__;!!BupLon6U!rWYtyCki85BobbIVEf-fcne9A1qtuxNX6j9hfUvG3HbNtIgO0WF9pS1W4Cep8XzhQ3KtURGvj-8VpCXcoLp2ZsTmWRPmVV3D$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1696953040842000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1m8z1OqEmgZThn_bfykqiD">among many others</a>. The measure was cosponsored by the Office of Kat Taylor, American Heart Association, California Academy of Nutrition of Dietetics, California Association of Food Banks, Dolores Huerta Foundation, Eat REAL, Gasol Foundation, GRACE End Child Poverty California, No Kid Hungry California, and the California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

Governor Signs Landmark Healthy School Meals for All Legislation

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<iframe loading="lazy" title="School Meals for All: The Rio School District &amp; FoodCorps" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B-RWdpG938Q?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h3 style="text-align: center"><a href="https://youtu.be/B-RWdpG938Q">&lt;&lt;Watch The Video&gt;&gt;</a></h3>
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The Rio School District in Oxnard, CA, is a national model for farm-to-school relationships. The District’s partnership with FoodCorps highlights the importance of nutrition, local agriculture, and providing fresh, healthy ingredients for students.
It’s a rainy Tuesday morning in Camarillo, CA, and local farmer Edgar Espinoza is grateful for the rain. Downpours and atmospheric rivers have caused flood damage to small farms across California, but for Edgar it means a plentiful harvest season which will feed children in the nearby Rio School District. 
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-359 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.03.37-PM.png" alt="" width="660" height="491" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.03.37-PM.png 1196w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.03.37-PM-300x223.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.03.37-PM-1024x762.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.03.37-PM-768x572.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.03.37-PM-600x446.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px" />
“That&#8217;s what I enjoy. Watching people take a bite out of something, like some of the fruit that I grow. I grow it, but even when I taste it… I swear it&#8217;s the best food in the world.” &#8211; Edgar Espinoza
Across town at the Rio School District office, FoodCorps service member Thailiya Thomas is working on an updated menu for the schools she serves. In the same office, Alise Echele, a registered dietitian nutritionist, can be heard making orders for vegetables to be delivered as a part of the Farm-to-School program she leads. She tells us: 
“I love being with students and supporting them in developing as adventurous eaters, learning the skills that they need to nourish themselves, preparing whole foods, connecting with the local agricultural community &#8211; like putting the face to that carrot that they’re eating, and learning about all the people in the community who are a part of growing, tending, harvesting that food, caring for the land, and creating a culture of gratitude for everyone who is a part of our food system.”
Rio School District’s Farm-to-school program is nourishing the next generation and is a stellar example for bringing agriculture and schools together. Lacey Piper, Rio School District’s Director of Child Nutrition &amp; Wellness, explained the origins of their program. 
“It really started with the Harvest of the Month programs, which feature a different fruit or vegetable item in the cafeteria, and the question was: how do we source those items locally?” 
Today, the district has moved from purchasing a few items here and there from local farmers to intentional seasonal purchasing throughout the year.  
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-360 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.30-PM.png" alt="" width="717" height="422" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.30-PM.png 1348w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.30-PM-300x177.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.30-PM-1024x603.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.30-PM-768x452.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.30-PM-600x353.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px" />
As the dew settles on a different farm near the school district, Paul Thurston, Farm Manager at Laubacher Farms, picks carrots that he knows will be used in the salad bars at Rio del Norte Elementary school just 15 minutes away. His carrots are becoming a fan favorite of students and staff alike, and each person can find their favorite preparation as the cafeteria staff will often serve the carrots grilled, sauteed, or in salads. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-361 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.42-PM.png" alt="" width="627" height="406" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.42-PM.png 1184w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.42-PM-300x195.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.42-PM-1024x664.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.42-PM-768x498.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.04.42-PM-600x389.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" />
“It&#8217;s really nice to be able to bring a program into fruition and help with it. Maybe the kids can get on a better track and get away from some of that diabetes,” says Thurston. 
As morning ends and the lunch bell sounds, educator Francisco Mueller tells his students to be prepared for their next lesson on composting and how it impacts the world around them. He credits California’s School Meals For All policy for being a beacon of hope for his students and their families “I know the parents are really appreciative of the free school lunches that are offered here.” says Mr. Mueller.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-362 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.22-PM.png" alt="" width="638" height="434" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.22-PM.png 1242w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.22-PM-300x204.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.22-PM-1024x696.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.22-PM-768x522.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.22-PM-600x408.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px" /> 
He and other staff at the school know that it’s important to feed students meals that nourish their growing minds and bodies, and that the impact of nourishment on a child can be seen in higher test scores, longer attention spans, and numerous other lifelong benefits.
“In order to be successful in the classroom, they need to be well fed, but well fed with healthy foods and that helps them with their energy and their stamina. So I truly respect what child nutrition services does to make that a priority again growing up in this community.” said Betsy Pegler, Principal of Rio del Norte Elementary.
Principal Pegler is a former student of the Rio School District and recalls growing up around agriculture and the role it’s played in feeding her community. She credits her nutrition services staff as well as the team at FoodCorps, who work tirelessly to engage students on hands-on food education and connect them with nourishing school meals. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-363 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.33-PM.png" alt="" width="713" height="501" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.33-PM.png 1338w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.33-PM-300x211.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.33-PM-1024x719.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.33-PM-768x540.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.33-PM-600x422.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px" />
Stephanie Towner serves at Rio del Norte Elementary through FoodCorps, and as a mother and former Rio School District student, she feels a deep connection to the kids she serves in the school district that she grew up in. 
“There&#8217;s peace of mind knowing that your kids go to school and that they&#8217;re getting nourishing meals that are tasting great. And the benefit is that they&#8217;re free to us. It should be a standard worldwide because feeding people is love. And if people go without food, where is the love in that?”
She works with her colleagues to prepare lessons related to food as well as the benefits of composting with Mr. Mueller&#8217;s class. Her emotional ties to the work can be heard in the passion she has speaking about what it means for her community to have access to fresh food. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-364 aligncenter" src="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.42-PM.png" alt="" width="646" height="408" srcset="https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.42-PM.png 1352w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.42-PM-300x189.png 300w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.42-PM-1024x647.png 1024w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.42-PM-768x485.png 768w, https://kattaylor.wpengine.com/schoolmealsforall/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-1.05.42-PM-600x379.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px" />
The students themselves had a great deal to say about the meals they receive, and Dillon, a energized 4th grader shared:
“It makes me feel happy because they actually want to take care of us and how much time it takes for the actual food to get here, because first, they have to farm it, then put it into a truck. And then the school has to get the truck to actually put the food in the cafeteria to set it up for everyone.”
Rio School District is setting the bar high for child nutrition and proving that school districts can benefit when they invest in freshly prepared meals and are supported by systems that allow them to do so. One thing’s for certain, this district is providing students with the nourishment they need to thrive in school and beyond.

The Rio School District’s National Model for Farm to School Partnerships

Contact us for more information at <a href="mailto:info@schoolmealsforall.org">info@schoolmealsforall.org</a>.

Free School Meals for All