A Small Step Towards Ending Hunger
Listen to the InterviewMore Children Faced Food Insecurity Last Year During Pandemic
Read the StoryThe number of food-insecure households remained steady from 2019 to 2020
Read the StoryWhy Are Food Prices Rising in the United States
Read the Story
News Highlights
- June 2022
Keep Kids Fed Act
Congress passes bill to help feed kids days before child nutrition waivers set to expire — NBC News, June 24, 2022
Bipartisan, Bicameral Keep Kids Fed Act would Extend Some School Meal Waivers — K-12 Dive, June 22, 2022
White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
Biden’s Hunger Summit Echoes Nixon’s, but Faces New Challenges — Roll Call, June 23, 2022
Child Nutrition WaiversUSDA program allowed 33,000 schools nationwide to provide free student meals in 2021-22 — Yahoo News, June 24, 2022For Millions of Students, a School Lunch Crisis Might Be Impending — Bon Appétit, June 7, 2022
Pandemic Rules for School Lunch Program Expiring — Marketplace, June 6, 2022
More than 80 State Legislators Seek Extension of Free Meal Program for Students — Yahoo News, June 5, 2022
WIC
Families Are Still Struggling to Find Baby Formula — Marketplace, June 6, 2022
FRAC’s Large School District Report: Operating School Nutrition Programs During the Pandemic
More than 80 State Legislators Seek Extension of Free Meal Program for Students — NNY360, June 5, 2022
FRAC’s Hunger and Its Solutions in New Jersey Report New Jersey Bill Would Provide Free School Meals to Students from Working Class Families — PhillyVoice, June 5, 2022
FRAC’s One Year of WIC During COVID-19 Report
State Streamlines referral Process for WIC Recipe — Santa Fe New Mexican, June 9, 2022
- May 2022
Child Nutrition Waivers
End of Free School Meals Will Be Catastrophic for Kids — Truthout, May 19, 2022
Montana Republicans Poised to Abandon School Lunch Assistance Amidst Hunger Crisis — Salon, May 5, 2022
USDA: States Can Still Apply for Limited School Nutrition Waivers — K-12 Dive, May 2, 2022
WIC
Black Moms in Rural Areas on WIC Are Devastated by Formula Shortage — Capital B, May 31, 2022
The Baby Formula Crisis Shows the Risks of Corporate Concentration — The New Republic, May 18, 2022 These Families Buy About Half of Infant Formula Nationwide. Here’s How the Biden Administration Is Trying to Help Them — CNN, May 13, 2022
Looking for Baby Formula Has Basically Become a Part-Time Job for Many Local Parents — DCist, May 13, 2022
SNAP
Growing Cost of Nutrition Aid May Spark New Farm Bill Battle — Agri-Pulse, May 27, 2022
Georgia’s Pandemic Food Stamp Benefit Ending on May 31 — Georgia Public Broadcasting, May 23, 2022
Rotisserie Chicken With Food Stamps? Lift the Ban, Lawmakers Say — Bloomberg Government, May 19, 2022
Texas Food Banks Feel Sigh of Relief as Public Health Emergency Benefits Continue — Texas Signal, May 19, 2022
New study maps digital access to food across the U.S., how delivery apps can help in food deserts — The Denver Channel, May 18, 2022
Food Delivery Apps Now Have Expansive Reach in Food Deserts — Bloomberg, May 11, 2022
FRAC’s Hunger and Its Solutions in New Jersey Report
Trenton Must Do More to Help N.J.’s Hungry — NJ.com, May 16, 2022
Food Insecurity for Thousands of NJ Households in Pandemic — NJ Spotlight News, May 10, 2022
FRAC’s Large School District Report: Operating School Nutrition Programs During the Pandemic
Meals to All Students at No Charge Reduced Childhood Hunger — KOH-AM (Reno, NV), May 31, 2022
‘It’s Going to Be Catastrophic’: Schools Brace for Crisis Over Meal Programs — U.S. News & World Report, May 26, 2022
Report: School Meal Waivers a Game Changer During Pandemic — Public News Service, May 26, 2022
- April 2022Child Nutrition Waivers
The Case for Universal Free Lunch — Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, April 29, 2022
School districts grapple with likely end to universal free meals– Penn Live Patriot-News, April 4, 2022
Georgia Children Could Lose Access to Food if Nutrition Waivers Are Not Renewed — Georgia Public Broadcasting, April 12, 2022
Support Kids Not Red Tape
Universal school meals back on table in bipartisan Senate proposal–K-12 Dive April 5, 2022
Healthy School Meals for All
A desire to provide healthy school meals to all Maryland students — and making it happen – The Frederick News Post, April 4, 2022
SNAP
4 Ways Americans Will Get Hammered With Benefit Cuts Once COVID-19 Is No Longer Deemed an Official Public Health Emergency — Business Insider, April 25, 2022
A “Hunger Cliff” Is Looming for Millions of Americans — The New Republic, April 25, 2022
Inflation Is Hurting Women at the Grocery Store. Some Are Eating Less in Order to Feed Their Families — The 19th, April 12, 2022
With Emergency SNAP Benefits Ending, a ‘Hunger Cliff’ Loom— Food & Environment Reporting Network, April 13, 2022
FRAC’s The Reach of Breakfast and Lunch: A Look at Pandemic and Pre-Pandemic Participation Report
Why Universal School Meals Expiring Would be ‘Devastating’ for This School District — EdNC, April 25, 2022
Universal School Meal Efforts Grow in States — K-12 Dive, April 20, 2022
FRAC’s Community Eligibility Database
From D.C. to the Cafeteria: A School Meals Primer — The 74, April 25, 2022
TCF’s Disability Economic Justice Collaborative
As COVID-Era Restrictions End, Disabled Americans Want to Avoid a ‘Return to Normal’ — TIME, April 15, 2022
- March 2022Child Nutrition Waivers
Once a Pandemic Lifeline, Universal Access to Free School Lunch to End – Washington Monthly, March 14, 2022
School Officials Struggle with How to Feed Students as Omnibus Bill Skips Meal Waivers– PBS Newshour, March 10, 2022
Food and Staff Shortages are Still Vexing School Lunch Programs. Costs May Keep Rising, Too. – Chalkbeat, March 10, 2022
Food and staff shortages are still vexing school lunch programs. Costs may keep rising, too – Al.com, March 10, 2022
Millions of Kids Face Risk of Hunger if Congress Doesn’t Extend Pandemic School Lunch Waivers– CNN, March 9, 2022Child Nutrition Waivers – The Laura Coates Show (SiriusXM), March 9, 2022
SNAP
Real Hunger Plagues College Students, too; and Their Expanded SNAP Benefits are Due to Expire. – MinnPost, March 8, 2022
Rising Grocery Costs May Pressure SNAP Participants to Cut Back on Fresh Produce –VeryWell Health, March 25, 2022
Support Kids Not Red Tape
Chairwoman Stabenow and Senator Murkowski Lead Bill to Extend School and Summer Meal Flexibilities to Feed Children – Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, March 31, 2022
FRAC’s The Reach of Breakfast and Lunch: A Look at Pandemic and Pre-Pandemic Participation Report
Hawaii Kids Could Lose Access to Free Meals at School with End of Federal Funding –Honolulu Civil Beat, March 23, 2022
- February 2022FRAC Statement on School Nutrition Standards
USDA Announces Stricter Standards for School Nutrition – The Washington Post, February 4, 2022
FRAC Nutrition Waiver Sign-on Letter
As Pandemic Persists, Broad Coalition Urges Congress to Continue School Food Waivers – FERN’s Ag Insider, February 7, 2022
Child Nutrition Waivers
Universal Free School Meals Will End if Congress Does Not Extend Child Nutrition Waivers – KFGO Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness (Fargo, ND), February 28, 2022
Advocates: Extend Child-Nutrition Waivers Past June 30 – Public News Service (Arkansas), February 24, 2022
Child Nutrition Waivers Set to Expire Soon – WVTM-TV (Birmingham, AL), February 23, 2022
KX Conversation: Crystal FitzSimons discusses a Free School Meal Program That Could Be Ending Soon – KX News (Bismarck, ND), February 15, 2022
COVID-19
Will a Steep Uptick in Child Obesity Rates Spur School Health Program Solutions? – K-12 Dive, February 8, 2022
Cutoff Looms for Congress to Extend USDA Nutrition Waiver Authority – K-12 Dive, February 4, 2022
FRAC’s The Reach of Breakfast and Lunch: A Look at Pandemic and Pre-Pandemic Participation Report
New Report Shows School Lunch Participation Dropped by 30% During Pandemic – Food Service Director, February 18, 2022
The Pandemic Increased Hunger, but Fewer Kids are Getting School Meals – FERN’s Ag Insider, February 15, 2022
FRAC, NAAF and IFAI Reimagining Hunger Responses in Times of Crisis Report
How Indigenous Leaders are Using Data to Confront Food Insecurity – Crosscut, February 28, 2022
The First Answer for Food Insecurity: Data Sovereignty – High Country News, February 11, 2022
Tribal Groups Want to Boost Traditional Diets in Federal Food Aid – Roll Call, February 2, 2022
- January 2022
COVID-19
Only 1 in 10 Adults Eating Enough Fruits and Vegetables, CDC Finds – ABC News, January 6, 2022
Federal Program Allows Some Americans to Use Food Stamps for Select Low-Cost Restaurants, Prepared Meals – USA Today, January 4, 2022
FRAC, NAAF and IFAI Reimagining Hunger Responses in Times of Crisis Report
Virtual Meeting Outline Food Security Issues Facing Indian Country – Char-Koosta News (Pablo, MT), January 27, 2022
Food Security Survey Reveals Gap in Federal Response, Need for Better Policy – Tribal Business News, January 23, 2022
Report Indicates Pandemic, Racism Exacerbated Food Insecurity in Native Communities – WIBW-TV Online (Topeka, KS), January 21, 2022
Food Insecurity During Pandemic Prompts Tribes to Bolster Food Sovereignty – Nevada Current, January 21, 2022
Food Insecurity in Indian Country Online Discussion Today – Los Alamos Daily Post (Los Alamos, NM), January 20, 2022
The Field Report: Biden Targets Consolidation in the Meat Industry (Again) – Civil Eats, January 7, 2022Report: COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Food Insecurity Among Indigenous Communities in the U.S. – The Daily Yonder, January 4, 2022
FRAC’s The Impact of Poverty, Food Insecurity, and Poor Nutrition on Health and Well-Being White Paper
Guaranteed Income Experiment for Black women aims to Tackle Racial Wealth Gap – ABC News, January 12, 2022
WIC
Burlco and Other N.J. Counties (Finally) Moving from Paper WIC to EBT Cards for Food Benefits – The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 13, 2022
Pandemic EBT
COVID-19 Sent Many Children into Virtual Learning Programs. Their Families Didn’t Know It Could Cost Them Food Benefits. – The Counter, January 20, 2022
- December 2021
COVID-19
USDA Announces $1.5 Billion to Aid Schools Rocked by Inflation, Supply Chain Disruptions – The Washington Post, December 17, 2021
Hunger Lingers for Millions of Underemployed, Low-Income Americans – Reuters, December 14, 2021
How COVID Became An Opportunity to Feed More Kids in Maine – PBS NewsHour, December 2, 2021
FRAC’s Hunger, Poverty, and Health Disparities During COVID-19 and the Federal Nutrition Programs’ Role in an Equitable Recovery Report
How to Help Feed Your Community With Virtual Food Drives, Donations This Holiday Season – Good Morning America, December 14, 2021
FRAC, NAAF and IFAI Reimagining Hunger Responses in Times of Crisis Report
Federal Nutrition Assistance and Agricultural Infrastructure Top the List of Solutions – Bloomberg Government, December 17, 2021
Food Insecurity Rose Sharply Among Native Americans During Pandemic, Report Says – FERN’s Ag Insider, December 17, 2021
- November 2021
COVID-19
Inflation, Supply-chain Disruptions Are Hurting Philly Food Banks and Low-income People – The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 24, 2021
Higher Food Costs Make the Math Even Harder for Americans on Food Stamps – NBC News, November 23, 2021
Rising Food Prices Have Resulted in Both Food Insecurity and Improvisation – NPR, November 9, 2021
Democrats Want to Expand Child-Nutrition Programs – National Journal, November 2, 2021
House Passage of the Build Back Better Act
Biofuels Groups, NFU Support BBB, Others Demur – The Fence Post, November 23, 2021
FRAC’s Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot in Participation report
More CO Kids Received Supper During Pandemic School Closures – Public News Service, November 22, 2021
Food Insecurity
Community Fridges Offer Free Food for Those Who Need Help – News4Jax (Jacksonville, FL), November 8, 2021
FRAC’s Community Eligibility Database
Fewer Students Attend Bibb County Schools. What Will It Mean for the Future? – WMAZ-TV, (Macon, GA), November 23, 2021
- October 2021
COVID-19
The Pandemic Disrupted Americans’ Access To Food. Not Everybody Suffered Equally. – The Counter, October 28, 2021
The Case Against Means Testing – Vox, October 15, 2021
Healthy School Meals for All
Districts Want to Make School Meals Free Forever. But They Need Help Paying for It. – EdSurge, October 18, 2021
The Effects of Poverty on Child Hunger – The Mixdown with Homestretch, October 5, 2021
Summer Pandemic EBTDeadline Approaching for Missouri Families Wanting to Apply for Summer Pandemic EBT – KMOV-TV (St. Louis, MO), October 9, 2021
SNAP
Rise in Food-Stamp Benefits Is Partly Undercut by End to Pandemic Aid – Arizona PBS Cronkite News, October 1, 2021
FRAC’s Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot in Participation report
NJ’s Ranking Among States Serving After-School Suppers To Low-Income Kids – NJ Spotlight News, October 28, 2021
- September 2021
Healthy School Meals for All
Supply Chain Issues, Labor Shortages Make Serving School Lunches A Struggle – NBC News, September 30, 2021
The Build Back Better ActHow a Big Federal Spending Package Could Affect School Meals and Student Poverty Counts – Education Week, September 23, 2021
FRAC Announces Director of Development
New Top Fundraisers – The Chronicle of Philanthropy, September 24, 2021
FRAC’s Food Insufficiency During COVID-19 Dashboard
Federal Child Tax Credit program boosts thousands in Tennessee – Tennessee Lookout, September 30, 2021
USDA ERS ReportFood Insecurity Rose for Single Moms, Families Of Color In 2020 – Utah Public Radio, September 15, 2021
Overall Food Insecurity Steady In 2020, but Levels Higher Among Black, Hispanic Households – Columbia Missourian, September 12, 2021
Despite The Year’s Turmoil, The Number Of Food-Insecure Households Remained Steady from 2019 to 2020 – The Counter, September 10, 2021
More Children Faced Food Insecurity Last Year During Pandemic – CNN, September 8, 2021
New Federal Study Shows Safety Net Helped Prevent Widespread Hunger During The Pandemic – The Washington Post, September 8, 2021
SNAP
2021 Thrifty Food Plan – Scripps National Media, September 30, 2021
Food Is Getting More Expensive in the U.S., and It’s Not Just Due to COVID – CNBC, September 9, 2021
Hurricane Ida
Albertsons Companies Donates $500,000 to Communities Impacted by Natural Disasters – KBOI-TV (Boise, ID), September 4, 2021
WIC
Head of PA Food Agency for Low-Income Women and Children Out After Agency Difficulties – The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 16, 2021
Pennsylvania Returns WIC Program To North Inc. After Awarding It To Temple University – The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 3, 2021
- August 2021Food Insecurity
Opinion: When it comes to ending hunger in America, Biden recognizes that money changes everything – The Washington Post, August 19, 2021
On Food Assistance, Biden Strays Dramatically From Obama’s Record – The Huffington Post, August 18, 2021
SNAP
A Small Step Towards Ending Hunger (Not Just Managing It) – Citizen Chef with Tom Colicchio, August 27, 2021
A Boost in Food Stamps, but Hunger Remains – The American Prospect, August 24, 2021
Biden Administration Announces Historic Increase To Food Stamp Benefits – Forbes, August 19, 2021
SNAP Increase Of 40 Cents a Meal Means $20 Billion a Year For Public Nutrition – Fern’s AG Insider, August 16, 2021
A Major Boost for Food Assistance Benefits – Route Fifty, August 16, 2021
Rural Hunger
Experts: Food Insecurity in Rural Areas Likely to Increase in Months to Come – The Daily Yonder, August 26, 2021
- July 2021Stop Childhood Hunger Act
Stop Child Hunger Act: East Bay Food Banks Back Passage – Patch, July 22, 2021
COVID-19
The New Face of Hunger – National Geographic, July 28, 2021
The Pandemic Safety Net Is Coming Apart. Now What? – The New York Times, July 18, 2021
Summer EBT
Pandemic Food Program Covers Students on Summer Break – Marketplace, July 6, 2021
WIC
Transition Time Gets Cut for WIC Program to Be Run by Temple University. Advocates Worry the Haste Will Endanger Recipients. – The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 8, 2021
Healthy School Meals for All
Let’s Rid of Hunger by Providing Healthy School Meals for All – Food Dignity, July 29, 2021
Free School Lunch Programs – Scripps National Media, July 26, 2021
California Adopts Free School Meals for All K-12 Students – Roseville Today, July 20, 2021
California and Maine Will Offer Free Public School Lunches – Marketplace, July 20, 2021
COVID-19 Amplifying Poverty Leads to High Numbers of Food Insecure Children In WNY And Beyond – WIVB-TV (Buffalo, NY), July 16, 2021
Universal School Meals Program Act – WJAS NewsTalk (Pittsburgh, PA), July 15, 2021
Children Nutrition Reauthorization – NBC LX, July 13, 2021
Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 – WFIN-AM (Findlay, OH), July 13, 2021
Universal School Meals – WBEN-AM (Buffalo, NY), July 10, 2021
Healthy School Meals – WPHM (Port Huron, MI), July 9, 2021
Fighting Childhood Hunger – WPHM-AM (Port Huron, MI), July 6, 2021
California ofrecerá permanentemente comidas gratis en todas las escuelas públicas de K-12 del estado – Al Dia, July 2, 2021
Community Eligibility Database
Wichita Public Schools Continues Free Meals for Students, Community Group Looks Beyond – KWCH (Wichita, KS), July 1, 2021
- June 2021COVID-19
The Hunger Crisis After COVID-19 – National Journal, June 21, 2021
Indiana’s Environmental Efforts, Food Insecurity, and the Pandemic Recession – All In (WFYI Radio), June 18, 2021
Op-ed: Our Shot at Creating Hunger-Free Schools – Civil Eats, June 10, 2021
SNAP
Feds Pony Up to Get More SNAP-Eligible Families Enrolled – Public News Connection, June 17, 2021
Trump-Era Plan to Reduce SNAP Eligibility Is Withdrawn – Successful Farming, June 10, 2021
Biden Nixes Trump Proposal That Would Have Kicked 3 Million Off Food Stamps – CNN, June 9, 2021
Pandemic EBT
Are Summer Food Benefits Here to Stay? – The American Prospect, June 15, 2021
Where You Can Order Groceries Online with an EBT Card – MSN, June 15, 2021
WIC
Pa. Awarding Philadelphia WIC Program to Temple University, Taking It from Agency That Ran It For 42 years – The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2021
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021
Democrats Push to Aid Americans Experiencing Food Insecurity by Introducing A New Bill – WETM 18 News (Elmira, NY), June 24, 2021
- May 2021COVID-19
Nutrition Support on the Way for Children and Families — Mom’s Rising Breaking Through with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, May 3, 2021
Healthy School Meals for All
Sen. Gillibrand, Local Officials Make Case for Permanent Free Meals for All School Students — News 12 (Bronx, NY), May 17, 2021
‘Put Kids First,’ Say Advocates in Call for Universal Free School Meals — FERN’s Ag Insider, May 12, 2021
Local Groups Urging Congress to Approve Bill Giving All Kids Free School Meals Permanently — FOX4 News Kansas City, May 11, 2021
Screen & Intervene: A Toolkit for Pediatricians to Address Food Insecurity
Call, Tweet and Email. Public Needs to Tell Ohio Policymakers to Make Ending Childhood Hunger A Top Priority. — The Columbus Dispatch, May 7, 2021
SNAP
Online SNAP Could Broaden Access, but More Work Needed First — Food Tank, May 19, 2021
- April 2021COVID-19
USDA Moves to Feed Millions of Children Over the Summer — NPR, April 26, 2021
Child-Hunger Advocates Hope Biden’s Expansion of P-EBT Becomes A Permanent Solution to Summer Food Needs — FERN’s Ag Insider, April 26, 2021
Biden is About to Send $1 billion More in Food Stamps to the 25 Million Neediest Americans — News Channel Nebraska, April 2, 2021
Long Lines for Free Food Persist More Than a Year into the Pandemic, Causing Concern Among Advocates — The Connecticut Mirror, April 12, 2021
Proposed Change to Pa. Rules of Declaring a Disaster May Endanger Emergency Food Stamps, Advocates Say— The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 15, 2021
WIC
WIC Has Proven Effective in Improving the Health of Children and Mothers. This Could Be a Big Year for the Program — The Counter, April 15, 2021
School Meals
USDA Extends Waivers on School Food Program That Feeds Hungry Kids — FERN’s AG Insider, April 21, 2021
Hartzler, Schrier Lead Legislation for Affordable School Lunch — Public Now, April 21, 2021
School Meals: The Impact of the Pandemic on 54 Large School Districts Report
One on One: How Chicago Public Schools is Feeding Every Student — Food Management, April 2, 2021
- March 2021School Meals: The Impact of the Pandemic on 54 Large School Districts Report
Report Shows Huge Drop in School Meal Counts for Country’s Largest Districts — Food Management, March 11, 2021
New Study Reveals Impact Of COVID-19 On Nation’s Largest School Districts — Food Service Director, March 11, 2021
D.C. Schools Lagged Nation in Providing Meals During COVID-19, Report Finds — WTOP, March 11, 2021
2021 School Breakfast Scorecard
Vermont Ranks Second for Number of Low-Income Children Eating Breakfast at School — Vermont Business Forum, March 11, 2021
Education Can Mean More Than Books – For Some, It Means a Meal — KNWA-TV (Fort Smith, AR), March 18, 2021
COVID-19
COVID Relief Bill Could Permanently Alter Social Safety Net — Associated Press, March 11, 2021
The Price of Food and Gas is Creeping Higher – and Will Stay That Way for a While – NBC News, March 1, 2021
Stories of Insecurity: COVID-19 Leading to More Empty Stomachs – York News-Times, March 5, 2021
Latest Stimulus Bill Expands 15 Percent Food Stamp Boost Through September. Here’s What You Need to Know. — CNBC, March 19, 2021
Vilsack Calls for Structural Changes in U.S. Food Distribution Systems to Deal with Hunger, Equity — FERN AG Insider, March 17, 2021
School Meals
USDA Extends School Meal Waivers Through September — FERN’s AG Insider, March 10, 2021
USDA Announces Free School Meals for Youths Through Summer — The Washington Post, March 9, 2021
Why Don’t America’s Public Schoolchildren Get Universal Free Lunch? — Eater, March 9, 2021
Lawmakers Plan Expansion of Child Feeding Programs — Agri-Pulse, March 24, 2021
The People Behind School Meals Are Pushing for Free Access for All — Civil Eats, March 8, 2021
Stabenow, Boozman Urge Congress to Make Child Nutrition a Priority This Year — FERN AG Insider, March 18, 2021
The School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program: A Primer — American Action Forum, March 31, 2021
- February 20212021 School Breakfast Scorecard
Utah Ranks Last on School Breakfast Scorecard; New Report Underscores the Importance of School Breakfast – St. George News, February 16, 2021
DOE Improves Free School Breakfast Program During Pandemic – Hawaii Public Radio, February 16, 2021
NJ Schools Skipping Mandate to Serve Breakfast, Group Says – WKXW-FM (Trenton, NJ), February 14, 2021
PM News Brief: Utah Breakfast Programs – KUER (NPR Utah), February 11, 2021
Hawaii Ranks 50th in Low-Income Children Participating in National School Breakfast Program – Maui Now, February 11, 2021
NJ Dropped in National School Breakfast Rankings, Report Says – Cape May County Herald, February 11, 2021
Drop in Number of Low-Income NJ Children Who Received Free or Reduced-Price School Breakfast – NJ Spotlight News, February 11, 2021
6 Things to know about school breakfast participation before COVID-19 – Food Service Director, February 11, 2021
New Report Underscores Importance of School Breakfast Participation in Utah – ETV News, February 12, 2021
FRAC Says Free School Breakfast Is Crucial to Addressing Hunger, Academic Performance – FERN’s AG Insider, February 8, 2021
Chobani Child Hunger Summit
Chobani Hosts First Virtual Child Hunger Summit on February 23 – Associated Press, February 17, 2021
COVID-19
Why Biden’s Effort to Shore Up SNAP Is So Important to Black and Brown Communities – NBC LX, February 8, 2021
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
SNAP Online Availability is About to Explode. But Grocers Say They Still Face Too Many Hurdles. – Grocery Dive, February 16, 2021
College Students Struggle to Enroll in SNAP – but Peer Support Programs Help – Civil Eats, February 16, 2021
Pandemic EBT
SNAP Boost and Pandemic EBT – Arizona PBS Cronkite News, February 4, 2021
School Meals
California State Senator Nancy Skinner Introduces Bill to Ensure School Meals for All Kids – Sierra Sun Times, February 11, 2021
- January 2021COVID-19
First 100 days: From targeted assistance to SNAP reform, how Biden should tackle the hunger crisis – FERN’s Ag Insider, January 20, 2021
What If Free School Meals Became the Norm After the Pandemic Ends? – Truthout, January 3, 2021
- December 2020Yahoo Finance Live: Food Insecurity in America Event
Families Need More ‘Food Assistance’ to Help Them Prepare for the Next COVID Wave: FRAC President on Food insecurity — Yahoo Finance Live, December 2, 2020
COVID-19
New Stimulus Package Makes It Easier to Qualify for Food Stamps. Here’s What You Need to Know – CNBC, December 30, 2020
Food Insecurity – Julianne Malveaux Radio Talk Show (WPFW-FM), December 28, 2020
$13 Billion SNAP Boost Is One of The Best Deals in Latest COVID-19 Aid Package. Here’s Why. – NBC News, December 25, 2020
What Will the New Stimulus Package Mean for the Nearly 50 Million Food-Insecure Americans? — The Washington Post, December 22, 2020
Food Insecurity in America — BBC World News, December 21, 2020
Congress Expanded SNAP Benefits During the Last Recession — and Should Do It Again — Vox, December 19, 2020
Americans Are Going Hungry — The Atlantic’s Social Distance, December 14, 2020
Millions of Hungry Americans Turn to Food Banks for 1st Time — The Associated Press, December 7, 2020
Texas Food Banks May Be Less Equipped to Help Hungry Households in The New Year — The Texas Tribune, December 7, 2020
9 Ways to Help People Facing Hunger in Your Community — SELF, December 1, 2020
Pandemic EBT
Low-Income Children Wait Months for USDA Food Aid to Replace School Meals — POLITICO, December 20, 2020
- November 2020Biden Transition
How America’s Approach To Poverty Could Change in a Biden Administration, Congress willing — Philadelphia Inquirer, November 12, 2020
COVID-19
From Jobs to Child Care: How This Second Surge in COVID-19 Can Damage Your Finances — As Well As Your Health — MarketWatch, November 29, 2020
‘No End In Sight’: Hunger Surges in America Amid a Spiraling Pandemic’ — The Guardian, November 20, 2020
‘There Is Always a Need for food assistance’: 10 Ways You Can Help People This Thanksgiving — MarketWatch, November 20, 2020
‘We Wish We Had a Crystal Ball’: Food Bank Leader Expects Heightened Need to Persist — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 25, 2020
Hunger Crisis: 1 in 5 Americans Turning to Food Banks — Consumer Reports, November 2, 2020
School Meals
Coronavirus Means School Food Is Free Across the U.S. What If It Stayed That Way? — The Hechinger Report, November 24, 2020
- October 2020FRAC Report: Afterschool Suppers
Less NJ Kids Used After-School Meals Before Surge in Hunger — New Jersey Patch, October 29, 2020
More Ohio Kids Using After-School Meals to Avoid Hunger — Ohio Patch, October 27, 2020
More NC Kids Using After-School Meals to Avoid Hunger — North Carolina Patch, October 26, 2020
Study: Afterschool Nutrition Program Counts Were Rising Before COVID — Food Management, October 21, 2020
Study: Participation in Afterschool Nutrition Programs was Rising before Pandemic — FERN, October 20, 2020
COVID-19
Coronavirus Stimulus Latest: Bill May Not Pass Until After the Election, Pelosi Says — WGN America’s NewsNation, October 21, 2020
Pandemic Pushes U.S. Child Hunger to the Brink — Patch, October 16, 2020
“Staggering” Need: COVID-19 Has Led to Rising Levels in Food Insecurity Across the U.S. — CBS News Online, October 14, 2020
Advocates Worry ‘Food Insecurity’ Gains Could Be Upended by COVID-19 — Arizona PBS Cronkite News, October 12, 2020
Food to Share Funding Extends Reach to Food Insecure — The San Joaquin Valley Sun, October 1, 2020
SNAP
Trump Fights in Court to Block Pandemic Food Aid for Lowest-Income Americans — POLITICO, October 26, 2020
With Trump Rule, Food-Insecure Immigrants Have Few Options — FERN, October 27, 2020
Infants in Food Insecure Homes at Greater Obesity Risk, Study Finds — VeryWell Health, October 2, 2020
Child Nutrition Programs
Focus Atlanta — Atlanta CW69, October 2, 2020
- September 2020FRAC Report: Not Enough to Eat
Feeding Youth Outside of School During COVID-19 — CitiesSpeak, September 25, 2020
Study: 29 Million American Adults Don’t Have Enough to Eat—Nearly a Threefold Increase From Two Years Ago – The Counter, September 16, 2020
We Must Act Now: ‘Hungry Families Can’t Wait’ – The New York Times, September 16, 2020
Federal Nutrition Programs Respond to America’s Deepening Hunger — The Washington Post, September 15, 2020
COVID-19
Senate Approves CR, Sends Bill to Trump — The Fence Post, September 30, 2020
Food Insecurity in the U.S. by the Numbers — NPR, September 27, 2020
Rural and Native Communities Are Hard Hit by COVID-Era Food Insecurity – Truthout, September 13, 2020
Child Nutrition Programs
Millions of Children May Miss Pandemic Food Aid As States Scramble to Meet Trump Administration Mandate – POLITICO, September 19, 2020
Advocates Push Congress to Act to Curb Child Hunger – National Journal, September 8, 2020
Young People Are Fighting Hunger and Finding Purpose – The New York Times, September 1, 2020
- August 2020SNAP
Hunger in Texas Doubles During Pandemic — KAMR-TV, August 14, 2020
Make Ends Meet: A Pandemic Plan to Help with Lunch — WAVE 3 News, August 7, 2020
New on the Podcast: The Future of Food Policy Has Big Implications for the Environment – Food Tank, August 20, 2020
Child Nutrition Programs
School Leaders Fear That Stricter Lunch Program Eligibility in The Fall Could Make It Harder for Students to Eat – The Washington Post, August 25, 2020
Agriculture Secretary Perdue Is Ending Free Meals for All Students, but Advocates and Members of Congress Say It’s Too Soon – The 74, August 25, 2020
When Students Study Remotely, Who Feeds Them? – Next City, August 27, 2020
Food Insecurity
Why Grocery Stores Are Avoiding Black Neighborhoods – CNBC Digital, August 20, 2020
Debt, Eviction and Hunger: Millions Fall Back into Crisis as Stimulus and Safety Nets Vanish — The Washington Post, August 23, 2020
- July 2020SNAP
SNAP increases for older adults should be a bipartisan no-brainer — The Hill, July 4, 2020
Fighting Food Insecurity Amid COVID-19, Groups Advocate For 15% Food Stamp Boost — Forbes, July 8, 2020
Farm, Rural, Nutrition Groups Make Case for More COVID-19 Aid — Progressive Farmer, July 21, 2020
Crisis del coronavirus: Se aproxima la fecha límite para solicitar ayuda del programa P-EBT en Texas — Univision, July 23, 2020
Senate GOP won’t extend pandemic food stamps but doubles ‘three-martini lunch’ deduction – The Washington Post, July 28, 2020
The Case for a Boost to SNAP — National Journal, July 30, 2020
Food Insecurity
Stark racial disparities emerge as families struggle to get enough food — POLITICO, July 6, 2020
Millions of Americans going hungry as pandemic erodes incomes and destroys communities — NBC News, July 7, 2020
Meal Programs Scramble to Feed More Hungry Children — The New York Times, July 8, 2020
Report: Coronavirus worsens food insecurity in the South — FERN’s AG Insider, July 19, 2020
- June 2020SNAP
A grassroots push for higher SNAP benefits — FERN’s AG Insider, June 23, 2020
Children Nutrition Programs
Kids could go hungry this summer with school lunch programs in peril — The Washington Post, June 4, 2020
School nutrition group to USDA: Provide free meals for all students in 2020-21 — Education Dive, June 4, 2020
COVID-19 Has Heightened the Threat of Child Hunger, While Efforts to Prevent It Have Fallen Short — U.S. News & World Report, June 16, 2020
Food Insecurity
Few farm groups speak out on George Floyd’s death or protests that followed — FERN’s AG Insider, June 3, 2020
Black Communities Face Wider Food Shortfalls as Covid Saps Jobs — Bloomberg Government, June 16, 2020
- May 2020SNAP
For Most Food Stamp Users, Online Shopping Isn’t an Option — The New York Times, May 1, 2020
Coronavirus is exacerbating America’s hunger crisis — Vox, May 11, 2020
‘Food stamps should be nonpartisan’: Sen. Gillibrand wants to increase federal food assistance — New York Daily News, May 19, 2020
Child Nutrition Programs
States Are Embracing Extra Funds from Pandemic EBT to Cover Missing School Meals — Civil Eats, May 4, 2020
California wanted to extend free school meals to hungry parents and guardians. The federal government said no. — The New York Times, May 8, 2020
California wants to feed students’ families. The USDA says no. Some states are doing it anyway. — The Washington Post, May 11, 2020
Schools are feeding millions of children. Now they face huge losses. — FERN’s AG Insider, May 18, 2020
Hunger Program’s Slow Start Leaves Millions of Children Waiting — The New York Times, May 26, 2020
‘Not moving fast enough’: Millions of children still without food aid — CNN, May 31, 2020
Food Insecurity
April saw the sharpest increase in grocery store prices in nearly 50 years — The Washington Post, May 12, 2020
- April 2020SNAP
Governors plead for food stamp flexibility amid pandemic — The Associated Press, April 6, 2020
Most SNAP recipients can’t buy groceries online. Now, some states push for change. — FERN’s AG Insider, April 6, 2020
Baltimore leaders ask state for more help ensuring food is accessible during coronavirus shutdowns — The Baltimore Sun, April 7, 2020
Online grocery shopping becoming available to a quarter of SNAP recipients — FERN’s AG Insider, April 8, 2020
Child Nutrition Programs
For schools, a new challenge: How to feed students during spring break? — The Washington Post, April 6, 2020
Millions of low-income children are still waiting for federal food aid — CNN, April 9, 2020
Schools Transform Into ‘Relief’ Kitchens, but Federal Aid Fails to Keep Up — The New York Times, April 19, 2020
Food Insecurity
Daybreak April 2: Farmers, allies appeal to USDA for COVID-19 relief — AgriPulse, April 2, 2020
‘We may have to ration’: US food banks face shortages as demand surges — The Guardian, April 17, 2020
Feeding the hungry and saving farms — The Boston Globe, April 17, 2020
- March 2020SNAP
Amid a Pandemic, Trump Moves Forward With Safety Net Cuts — The New York Times, March 13, 2020
Coronavirus Pandemic Saves Poor Americans From Food Stamp Cuts — Bloomberg, March 15, 2020
Covid-19 relief bill suspends SNAP work and training requirements — FERN’s AG Insider, March 15, 2020
USDA to appeal ruling, seeks food stamp change amid pandemic — The Associated Press, March 18, 2020
USDA will appeal order blocking it from purging food stamp recipients — The Hill, March 18, 2020
Trump Administration Moving Forward With April 1 Plan to Kick 700,000 Off Food Stamps Despite Coronavirus Crisis — Vanity Fair, March 19, 2020
Pelosi backs higher SNAP benefits for next coronavirus bill — FERN’s AG Insider, March 26, 2020
Relief Package A Good Start, Say Advocates For The Poor. But More Help Is Needed. — National Public Radio, March 27, 2020
Child Nutrition Programs
‘Do we really want to close schools?’ U.S. authorities resist coronavirus closures — Reuters, March 6, 2020
As Coronavirus Closes Schools, USDA Offers Limited Help to Kids Who Rely on School Meals — Civil Eats, March 6, 2020
Coronavirus Is Closing Schools. What Does That Mean for Kids Who Rely on School Meals? — Eater, March 9, 2020
USDA will help ‘keep the kids fed’ during Covid-19, says Perdue — FERN’s AG Insider, March 9, 2020
Coronavirus is closing more schools. What happens to students who depend on school lunches? — NBC, March 10, 2020
Schools hamstrung over feeding students as coronavirus leads to closures — POLITICO, March 10, 2020
Save Our City: Why does NYC lag in getting schoolchildren free breakfast? — New York Post, March 11, 2020
Coronavirus Demonstrates Why America Needs a Basic Income — Medium, March 17, 2020
Food Insecurity
Nutrition assistance expands as pandemic impact deepens — FERN’s AG Insider, March 1, 2020
- February 2020SNAP
White House renews call for broader work rules for SNAP — FERN’s AG Insider, February 10, 2020
Child Nutrition Programs
This Spud’s For You — HuffPost, February 2, 2020
Number of low-income children eating school breakfast hits plateau — FERN’s AG Insider, February 12, 2020
Newark Schools Feed 90 Percent Of Students Breakfast: Study — Patch, February 13, 2020
Food Research & Action Center School Breakfast Scorecard shows school breakfast participation up slightly overall, but flat among low-income students — Food Management, February 18, 2020
How Bad Are Things? Debt Relief Has Become A Cause — Forbes, February 25, 2020
Food Insecurity
Putting hunger back on our policy menu — The Hill, February 8, 2020
- January 2020SNAP
Lawsuit filed over Trump administration’s SNAP rule limiting access to food stamps — ABC, January 16, 2020
Democrat-Led States Sue To Block Trump Food Benefit Cut — HuffPost, January 16, 2020
3 States Moving to Make More SNAP Recipients Eligible for Hot Meals — Civil Eats, January 21, 2020
Child Nutrition Programs
Rollback proposed for Michelle Obama school lunch guidelines — The Associated Press, January 17, 2020
How Trump’s USDA wants to change rules around school nutrition — PBS, January 17, 2020
Trump plan lowers quality of school meals, say former ag secretaries — FERN’s AG Insider, January 26, 2020
- December 2019SNAP
Nearly 700,000 Americans could lose food stamps under Trump administration plan — CBS News, December 4, 2019
668,000 will lose food stamp benefits under new work rules — The Associated Press, December 4, 2019
USDA tightens SNAP work rules to cut nearly 700,000 off rolls — AgriPulse, December 4, 2019
How Trump’s New Food Stamp Rule Could Impact Nearly 700,000 Vulnerable Americans — TIME, December 6, 2019
Take Action Now: Stand Up for Our Climate — The Nation, December 12, 2019
Trump’s food stamp cuts begin soon – and black Americans to be hardest hit — The Guardian, December 19, 2019
Child Nutrition Programs
Kindergarten student earns enough money from cocoa stand to pay off 123 students’ lunch debt at her school — New York Daily News, December 17, 2019
- November 2019Child Nutrition Programs
Students Who Eat Breakfast Perform Better on Standardized Tests, Study Finds — Newsweek, November 20, 2019
Sizing up Warren’s plan for black farmers — POLITICO, November 27, 2019
- October 2019Child Nutrition Programs
School lunch debt and lunch shaming is a problem that needs a national solution — NBC News, October 16, 2019
What’s for lunch? At some schools, everyone eats the same thing. — The Washington Post, October 21, 2019
Free school meals for nearly a million poor children are in jeopardy under proposed Trump rule change — The Washington Post, October 23, 2019
‘Sitting in class hungry’: Schools wary of Trump plan to end free school lunches for some — USA Today, October 27, 2019
What’s for lunch? — The Washington Post, October 28, 2019
Food Insecurity
Food scholarships. Homeless shelters. Emergency loans. — Food Environment & Reporting Network, October 28, 2019
- September 2019SNAP
Agriculture Department Flooded With Appeals to Stop Food Stamp Purge — The New York Times, September 23, 2019
Child Nutrition Programs
The number of low-income children served after-school food in New Jersey is rising — The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 5, 2019
Food Insecurity
Cities, Migrant Allies Decry Newest ‘Public Charge’ Crackdown — Bloomberg Government, September 4, 2019
Food insecurity declines to prerecession levels — AgriPulse, September 4, 2019
- August 2019SNAP
New Trump Food Stamp Rules Could Kick Entire Schools off Free Meals — VICE News, August 8, 2019
Trump immigration plan could raise hunger in America — The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 13, 2019
Proposed SNAP rule would affect schools that provide free meals to all — Education Dive, August 29, 2019