Current Actions

Federal: Tell your Representatives to Support Legislation to Combat Student Hunger, Expand Access to Free or Reduced-Price School Meals

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Recently, two bills were introduced that would expand access to free or reduced-price meals for millions of American children.

The bills expand criteria for individual students to receive free or reduced-price school meals, lower the threshold required for districts to offer free school meals for all students, and increase reimbursements for schools to cover meal costs without compromising students’ access to meals.

Join Hunger Free New Jersey in asking our New Jersey representatives to support and sign on to these bills.

Federal: Tell your Representatives to Support the Summer Meals Act of 2024

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 04:00:00 GMT

The Summer Meals Act of 2024 would increase the reach of the Summer Nutrition Programs. The Summer Nutrition Programs help close the summer nutrition gap and support educational and enrichment programs that keep children learning, engaged, and safe when school is out.

Federal: Tell your Representatives to Support the Thrifty Food Plan

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 04:00:00 GMT

The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) determines the maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) monthly benefit based on: current dietary guidelines, food consumption data, and cost of food items at retailers.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson has unveiled his farm bill proposal, including his proposals for reauthorizing SNAP, with committee markup slated for later in May. The proposal would reportedly freeze the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan. This proposal is estimated to result in a $30 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade, and would affect every SNAP participant.

We need your help in asking our Representatives to protect and strengthen SNAP by rejecting harmful benefit cuts to the Thrifty Food Plan. Congress should not return to a policy that left many low-income families experiencing food insecurity and hardship. Instead, policymakers must ensure that SNAP benefits keep pace with the scientific evidence regarding the cost of a healthy, realistic diet.

State: Tell state lawmakers to support School Meals for All!

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Studies have shown a direct link between healthy meals and improved academic performance, boosted attendance, and better classroom behavior. In addition, providing healthy meals for all kids helps families and New Jersey’s economy. Overall, every dollar invested in providing healthy meals for students leads to at least two dollars in health, economic, equity, and environmental benefits.

Add your support for School Meals for All in New Jersey and let your representatives know you think healthy students are better learners!

Federal: The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Please take a moment to urge your Members of Congress to make healthy school meals free for all students nationwide.

Offering school meals to all students at no charge ensures a welcoming environment, but also eliminates stigma, embarrassment, and reluctance to participate. A robust school meals program can achieve this by eradicating lunch shaming and creating a supportive atmosphere where students can access nutritious meals to flourish academically and personally.

State: Support for the Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The New Jersey Legislature is considering passing a law to establish a farm to school local food procurement program. School meals provide critical nutrients to more than 30 million students each day, the vast majority of whom are low-income and receive a free or reduced-price meal. This program would incentivize schools and school districts to purchase food directly from local farmers and growers to enhance meal offerings for students.

Farm to school programs and public procurement dollars have immense potential to catalyze the revival of sustainable and equitable food systems, while driving local economic development, job creation, community engagement, and most importantly: student health.

We need your help in asking Legislators to vote yes on this bill! Please take a moment to send an email to your Legislators.

Federal: Support for the RESTORE Act of 2023

Wed, 31 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Thousands of people released from state and federal prisons each year re-enter society and find significant challenges, including lifetime bans on receiving food assistance. The RESTORE Act would repeal the 1996 ban on people with drug felony convictions receiving SNAP, and it would allow them to apply for the program before their release so that they can meet their basic needs on day one, reducing the likelihood of recidivism and increasing the quality of life for people hoping to reintegrate into their communities.

Federal: Ask U.S. House Members to Cosponsor the American Family Act

Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Urge your U.S. House Member to join the growing number of cosponsors of the American Family Act, which establishes a permanently expanded and fully refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) where families would receive monthly payments.

When the 2021 expanded CTC was in place, these monthly payments reduced food insufficiency by 19 percent, cut child poverty to a record low, and addressed inequities for the millions of families newly eligible for the full credit. With the end of the expanded CTC, an estimated 19 million children lost eligibility for the full credit or any credit at all, with certain marginalized communities being disproportionately harmed.

Federal: Improving Access to Nutrition Act (H.R. 1510)

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Since it was enacted in 1996, the SNAP eligibility time limit restricts many working age adults without dependents to receive only three months of benefits in a three year period unless they document sufficient hours of work.1 This harsh policy has taken food off the tables of many struggling adults.

Join Hunger Free New Jersey in asking our representatives to sign on as co-sponsors to H.R. 1510, which would end the three-month time limit on SNAP benefits for certain unemployed and underemployed adults who do not document sufficient hours of work each month.

Federal: Ask your Members of Congress to protect SNAP in the 2023 Farm Bill

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Farm Bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that is updated every five years that dictates federal policies governing food and agriculture programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is the nation’s largest federal nutrition program and is an important safety net for 43 million food insecure Americans.

Join Hunger Free New Jersey in asking our Congressional Representatives to support a robust Farm Bill that does not cut or restrict access to SNAP.

Federal: Ask Your Members of Congress to Support the Enhance Access to SNAP Act

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT

Join Hunger Free New Jersey in asking Congress to pass the Enhance Access to SNAP (EATS) Act, a bill that would permanently extend SNAP eligibility, eliminating work-for-food SNAP rules that require students to work 20 hours a week or have a federal work-study job to receive SNAP. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress temporarily expanded SNAP eligibility for college students struggling with food insecurity.