Gov. Evers and Jill Underly Announce Healthy School Meals Proposal in 2023-2025 Budget
Gov. Evers and Jill Underly Announce Healthy School Meals Proposal in 2023-2025 Budget
Plan will provide more free and healthy meals for students across Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE, WI – Governor Tony Evers, alongside State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, announced major investments to child nutrition through their 2023-2025 state budget proposal.
According to a press release from the Governor’s office, the state has a projected $5 billion budget surplus that would allow for investments in K-12 education without increasing property taxes. Included in this provision, free meals would be provided to all students who qualify for free and reduced meals, as well as significantly decrease the cost for students paying full price.
“Budgets are about priorities, and that’s why building our biennial budget always begins for me with doing what’s best for our kids, and we know our kids, families, and schools need our help now more than ever to get caught up, get more educators and staff in our classrooms, and ensure every kid has the support and resources they need to be successful,” said Gov. Evers.
This plan expands access to affordable school meals for Wisconsin students and would create state-funded reimbursement programs for breakfasts, milk, snacks, and lunches.
“Children are Wisconsin’s greatest resource. Children who are hungry at school can’t concentrate and struggle throughout the school day,” said Maureen Fitzgerald, Vice President of Government Relations at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “Today the Governor ensures that no child will go to school too hungry to learn. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin works every day to make sure families have nutritious food on their table. We celebrate the Governor’s partnership in this effort.”
Across the 35 counties in Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s footprint, food insecurity amongst children has increased to 16.1%, meaning that 1-in-6 kids don’t know where their next meal is coming from. In Milwaukee County specifically, 1-in-4 kids (25%) are food insecure.
Media outlets interested in speaking with one of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s representatives regarding Gov. Evers proposal and the impact it will have on Wisconsin’s kids should email Tony Cartagena (TCartagena@FeedingAmericaWI.org) and interviews will be scheduled.
About Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin:
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the leading hunger relief organization in the state with locations in Milwaukee and the Fox Valley. Founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a local and independent member of the Feeding America network. Driven by our mission to solve hunger and our vision of a hunger free Wisconsin, we are bringing more people together around the table to collaboratively address the root causes of hunger. Together with our 400+ member organizations, we serve nearly 500,000 people across 35 counties in eastern Wisconsin each year, including 124,000 children and 41,000 seniors.
