News

After four years of significant growth, national participation in the Summer Nutrition Programs decreased last summer, according to the Food Research & Action Center’s (FRAC) annual Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report, released today. During July 2016, the programs served 3 million children across the country — 4.8 percent fewer children than were served in the previous summer.

FRAC held its 27th Annual Benefit Dinner on June 7 in Washington D.C. This year’s dinner focused on the strengths of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in reducing hunger and poverty and improving health, academic, and economic outcomes for millions of Americans.

The president’s FY 2018 budget proposes $193 billion in cuts to SNAP over the next 10 years. “These cuts, which would slash SNAP by an unprecedented 25 percent, will dismantle a proven and effective program that provides a path out of hunger and poverty.

Widespread reports indicate that SNAP will suffer drastic cuts in the president’s budget. FRAC will work with Congress to stop these cuts in order to prevent untold harm to the millions of people in this country who struggle against hunger.

Santa Fe, N.M., March 20, 2017 — New Mexico could become the first state in the nation to pass legislation that protects children from punishment in the school cafeteria because their family has not paid their school meal debt. The bill draws a line in the sand between the student and the unpaid school meal fees that their parents or guardians owe, oftentimes because they cannot afford to pay on time.