The goal of EIF's Hunger Free America is to make ending childhood hunger a national priority, focusing on the expansion of
breakfast programs in public schools.
Federally-funded child nutrition programs are administered through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide
low-income children with nutritious meals. These programs protect children during the school hours and during the summer.
Child nutrition programs relieve hunger, avert malnutrition, and improve quality of diet. They can also alleviate some of the
psychological and emotional stress that come with lack of food at home. Participation in the National School Breakfast Program,
improves overall health, increases academic success, while reducing behavioral problems that can disrupt the entire classroom.
Despite the proven success of programs like school breakfasts, their full potential has not been realized due to limited
utilization and access. The School Breakfast Program reaches 6.5 million children, less than half the number of students who
qualify for free or reduced price lunches. EIF's Hunger Free America is working to increase those numbers and make sure no
child starts the school day on an empty stomach.
Federal funding is not the primary obstacle, since these programs have entitlement status, which means that eligible participants
and programs are guaranteed funding. However, while federal funding subsidizes the cost of meals and administrative expenses,
additional state funding can support start-up grants, raising meal reimbursement rates, or other administrative expenses.
EIF's Hunger Free America School Breakfast Kit informs educators and other concerned organizations for schools how to overcome
some of these obstacles.
Fully implementing child nutrition programs and improving their accessibility has the potential to greatly benefit all children
despite their economic class. Well-nourished children are more likely to receive the full benefits of their education, be less
disruptive and have a better chance of reaching their full physical and mental potential.
Learn more about EIF's Hunger Free America School Breakfast Kit
