Solving school hunger in arkansas
It’s Simple - You Can’t Learn When You’re Hungry
Hungry children can’t learn – which is why leaders in Arkansas have been advocating to ensure that children within our state are given every opportunity to receive an education without the lack of basic necessities standing in their way. As support continues to grow in the legislature and from Governor Huckabee-Sanders, now is the time for us to do more for the students of Arkansas.
- 1 in 4 children across Arkansas aren’t sure where their next meal will come from.
- AR is ranked #1 in household food insecurity.
-
64% of AR K-12 students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals but most do not participate due to social stigma.
Ease the burden of inflation placed on many Arkansas families - potentially saving them around $1,000 a year in food costs.
Improve academic performance, increase attendance and reduce discipline problems in the classroom.
Provide a reliable, nutritious food source for Arkansan children each school day
Support Across the State
I think that if you look around this room and you see not just the number of people but all of the different stakeholders that are invested in making sure that our kids are not going hungry in the state of Arkansas, that should tell you something.”
Gov. Huckabee-Sanders
We’re excited that we’re able to provide these school lunches and breakfast to our kids because we know that it’s important that they learn with the nourishment that they need. We’re excited for what this means for their educational futures and also for the future of Arkansas.
Sen. Jonathan Dismang
Regardless of whatever the reasons may be that they come to school hungry, we need to set those things aside and come together as a state, as a team, in order to be able to provide to the needs of our children.
Sen. Kim Hammer
This is an essential component of actually building the community. Therefore, I’m in the fight to have universal breakfast in classrooms.
Sen. Fred Love
Most don’t realize how important breakfast is for kids. A student once told me he was so happy to be back at school because he knew he would get to eat every day. Breakfast is a guaranteed meal students should get every day since food insecurity is a real thing they face.
Rep. Zack Gramlich
Truly breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Not only that, (but) if children don’t get food, they can’t learn
Rep. Deann Vaught
South Carolina
South Carolina has Community Eligibility
Provision requirements set up to expand the
low income access to free and reduced school
meals.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has legislation in place for
universal free school breakfast only
New York
New York has Community Eligibility Provision
requirements set up to expand the low income
access to free and reduced school
meals.
Ohio
Ohio has legislation in place that pays
for the cost of reduced-price meals.
Connecticut
Connecticut has legislation in place that pays
for the cost of reduced-price meals.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island has legislation in place that pays
for the cost of reduced-price meals.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has legislation in
place for universal school meals.
Maine
Maine has legislation in place for universal
free school meals.
Vermont
Vermont has legislation in place for universal
free school meals.
Minnesota
Minnesota has legislation in place
for universal free school meals.
North Dakota
During the 2023-24 school year, North Dakota
paid reduced-price cost for those
200% below the FPLD.
New Mexico
New Mexico has legislation in place
for free universal school meals.
Colorado
Colorado has legislation in place
for universal free school meals.
Washington
Washington has Community Eligibility
Provision requirements set up to expand
the low income access to free/reduced
school meals.
Nevada
Nevada had legislation in place for universal
free school breakfast, though it expired
in 2024.
California
California has legislation in place
for universal free school meals.
Michigan
Michigan has legislation in place
for universal free school meals.
Arizona
Arizona has temporary legislation in
place that pays for the cost of reduced-price
meals.
Delaware
Delaware has legislation in place
that pays for the cost of reduced-price
meals.
Louisiana
Louisiana has legislation in place
that pays for the cost of reduced-price
meals.
New Jersey
New Jersey has Community
Eligibility Requirements set up to
expand low income access to
free/reduced school meals.
North Carolina
North Carolina has Community
Eligibility Provision requirements set up
to expand the low income access to
free/reduced school meals.
Arkansas
Arkansas has legislation in place
that pays for the cost of reduced-price meals.
Georgia
Georgia has legislation in place
that pays for the cost of reduced-priced
meals.
Partners and Organizations
Thank you to our champions in the Arkansas legislature and Governor Huckabee-Sanders for working alongside us to feed children in Arkansas. Your dedication and passion allows us to educate Arkansans on the importance of providing free school breakfast to all students – impacting them both in and out of the classroom.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders lays out executive order that addresses food insecurity in Arkansas
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
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Arkansas legislators must ensure all students receive free meals at school
Arkansas Advocate
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Arkansas Foodbank calls on Arkansans for more involvement after USDA report release
KATV
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OPINION | SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: Back to school
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
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Nonpartisan fun for a good cause
Northwest A
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Jacksonville N. Pulaski School District, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance team for summer nutrition program
kark
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USDA ranks Arkansas worst state for food insecurity; 3 of every 16 households went hungry in 2023
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
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OPINION/School Meals: New Arkansas law makes free breakfast, lunch more accessible
Texarkana Gazette
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Arkansas expands free school meal access
Food Service Director
Read More