Gov. Maura Healey has made it official: public school pupils in Massachusetts will receive free lunches permanently.
Rebecca Wood disclosed to WBZ-TV that she was not always confident that her 11-year-old son, Charlie, would have been granted access to his daily lunch.
Charlie, like so many others, did not qualify for a reduced meal, forcing Wood to make difficult choices.
“In Massachusetts, a family of four with an annual income of $52,000 was not eligible for free or reduced-price meals. “Many Massachusetts families struggle to make ends meet on $52,000,” said Erin McAleer, CEO and president of Project Bread, an organization advocating for statewide food access.
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Fair Share Amendment to Fund Free Meals Program
According to Project Bread, 26.2% of Massachusetts households are food insecure as of May 2023.
Approximately 18,000 individuals contacted elected officials in response to the startling statistic, ensuring that the free meals program became a reality.
The program will be funded by a combination of federal and state funds, as well as a contribution from the 4% tax on incomes over $1 million imposed by the voter-approved fair share amendment of 2022, which is used to finance the transportation and public education systems.
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Source: CBS News
