This article was originally published in Michigan Advance.
Elementary school children enjoyed breakfast foods, snacks and milk at Waverly East School in Lansing Wednesday morning as leaders announced a program that will bring free breakfast and lunch to kids around the state — even when school is out for the summer.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, led an initiative to pour federal funds into expanding food access during the summer for children. While some children have had access to free food during the school year, this program will make summer meals permanent.
“We have this great opportunity for breakfast and lunch and in many cases, for snacks in school,” Stabenow said. “But then we get to the summer, and what we have seen is far less funding available, fewer flexibilities and support for summer meals.”
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According to Food Bank Council of Michigan Executive Director Phil Knight, Michigan is the first state to implement the program, which is modeled similarly after COVID-19 food benefits .