In Minnesota, one in six children are food insecure, and that number is continuing to rise. For many children, the food they eat at school may be the only reliable access they have to nutritional food. Yet the reality is many students throughout the state cannot afford to pay for these meals.
This reality will change beginning in fall 2023, when all K-12 Minnesota students will have access to free breakfast and lunch at school, after Minnesota lawmakers passed the universal school meals bill in March.
For years, Blue Cross has been a leader in advocating for greater access to free school meals; believing that health happens in communities and that no child should suffer the impact of food insecurity.
In 2020, Blue Cross got involved in the Hunger-Free Schools coalition as a co-chair and funder. The coalition is made up of 29 private, public, and non-profit organizations in Minnesota, whose belief is that eliminating student hunger creates a more equitable school system and healthier children.
By providing two free meals a day, schools can help increase academic achievement and decrease the racial and health equity gap in Minnesota.
Ultimately, Blue Cross and the Hunger- Free Schools’ advocacy helped influence lawmakers to pass the universal school meals bill that will go into effect on July 1 when the new state budget year begins. Going forward, Blue Cross and Hunger- Free Schools will monitor effective implementation of the universal meals program in schools across the state and continue to look for more solutions to food insecurity.
“Hunger and food insecurity is still a significant problem in our communities,” said Janelle Waldock, Director of Racial and Health Equity Policy at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “The whole advocacy community came together to get this bill over the finish line. We’re super excited to figure out how we take that collective power and continue to work on this issue.”