North Charlotte Today

The federal government has been moving away from changes it implemented to help families during the pandemic, leaving non-profits to pick up the slack.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is one such group that has helped by ensuring children get meals.

“An additional 10 million children have been able to receive school meals at no charge while schools have received critical financial assistance during the pandemic,“ Jamie Bussel, spokesperson for the agency, said in a WCNC newscast. “Summer meal programs have expanded exponentially.”

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the nation’s largest health philanthropic group. It has an aim of trying to make it possible for all children to continue to receive free school meals.

Regarding summer meal programs, Bussel said they haven’t reached everyone in need.

“This, prior to the pandemic, has not reached every child in need, and that’s for a host of other reasons,” he said. “In terms of eligibility criteria, in terms of being able to access what’s often a cumbersome process. Although 30 million children participate in the national school lunch program, there are many, many children in need that it’s not reached.”

With the school year getting ready to start, area schools will be reverting back to specific financial eligibility requirements. Many agree that the past two years were a success and are pushing for permanent changes to be made to help more families.

“The power of school meals and the critical role they play in student health, in student wellbeing in academic success cannot be underestimated,” Bussel said in the report.