Will We See You For Hunger Action Day?

Monday will be Hunger Action Day. Together with the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, we’re looking forward to seeing many of you in Olympia to talk with lawmakers about key anti-hunger and poverty reduction strategies. Here’s a roundup of where we stand in the important work of fighting hunger in Washington state.

We are just one stop away from getting Breakfast After the Bell legislation on the Governor’s desk to be signed into law! This bill would increase access and participation in school breakfast for low-income students while enhancing funding for a state program that helps connect Washington growers to marketing opportunities at schools and other institutions. With this legislation, hungry kids can get the best possible start to their school day with improved access to a nutritious school breakfast made with fresh ingredients.

Over the last 5 years since this legislation was first introduced, we’ve watched Washington slide downward in our national standing when it comes to school breakfast participation for low-income kids. The House has passed this bill every year, but we have never had a vote in the Senate. That all changed two weeks ago when the Senate passed the Senate version of our bill, and again earlier this week when they passed the House bill, HB 1508. Both bills passed with overwhelming bipartisan support: the vote count for 1508 was 43-5!

The next step is for the House to vote again on 1508, showing that the House approves of amendment language that was added in the Senate. After that, the bill will be sent to Gov. Inslee to sign into law, and 2018 will officially be the year that we take a significant step forward towards reducing childhood hunger in Washington!

Another bill that seeks to make a dent in childhood hunger has been reintroduced for this year: HB 2712, sponsored by Rep. Mia Gregerson, would eliminate the school lunch co-pay for kids in grades K-12. This would relieve a financial hurdle for struggling families that make too much to qualify for free meals but still qualify for a reduced-price meal. Students in the reduced-price meal category would receive a free meal as the state would pay the co-pay, allowing families just a little more money (as much as 40 cents each day) to save up and put towards other household necessities and expenses.

WHAT YOU CAN DO