Mayor Steinberg has added his name to the growing list of mayors across the country supporting a campaign to get more children to take advantage of subsidized school breakfast programs.

The No Kid Hungry campaign is sponsored by the national non-profit Share Our Strength, which estimates that one of every seven children in the United States lives with hunger.

In Sacramento, only 29 percent of kids who are eligible for free breakfast participates in the program, according to the California Department of Education.

Drawing attention to the need, the No Kid Hungry campaign prepared a school breakfast sampling event for the students at Luther Burbank High School in South Sacramento on March 3 showcasing the healthy and tasty options available through the free breakfast program in Sacramento City Unified. On March 4, also at Luther Burbank, eleventh graders preparing to take the SAT were provided with an in classroom free breakfast before the test.

“We believe every student, regardless of their income, deserves a high quality, nutritious meal every day. What better way to do that than serve chef inspired freshly prepared locally sourced ingredients at school. At SCUSD Farm to Fork is Farm to every Fork.” said Diana Flores, Sacramento City Unified School District, Director of Nutrition Services.

The National Education Association says eating breakfast improves behavior and attendance, and boosts academic achievement (especially in math).

Students at Luther Burbank High School sharing the nutritious and delicious breakfast available at the school.Photo Credit: Tom EcElheney — Students at Luther Burbank High School sharing the nutritious and delicious breakfast available at the school.
Photo Credit: Tom EcElheney

Funded by the federal government, the National School Breakfast program started in 1966 and was made permanent in 1975. Local programs are reimbursed for the meals they serve. Schools must follow set nutritional guidelines to be reimbursed for the meals they serve. Students will qualify for free meals if their family income is at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level. Families with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced price meals. Check with your local school site for more information about local programs: Sacramento City Unified, Robla Unified, Twin Rivers Unified, Elk Grove Unified, Natomas Unified.

You can join in the online campaign by using the following social media tags: #PoweredbyBreakfast and #NoKidHungry and by tweeting at @NoKidHungry and following the work in California on their website: https://state.nokidhungry.org/california/