School Meals Are a Lifeline for Nearly Half a Million Families in Wisconsin

For every child, the school day should begin with a nutritious breakfast. For families facing food insecurity, this reality is possible thanks to The School Breakfast Program. A healthy meal is the fuel needed to start the day. Research shows when children are hungry, it can be harder to concentrate in school and reach their full potential. That’s why access to healthy school meals is an essential part of creating a strong foundation for every child. In 2024, more than 220,000 students throughout the state received a healthy breakfast and an additional 484,000 students were enrolled in the School Lunch Program in Wisconsin to ensure they could enjoy a healthy lunch to further aid in their growth and development.

As members of Voices Against Hunger, it’s our responsibility to continue to advocate for and educate the public about national school meals programs to ensure every child has the nutrients needed to succeed at school. We ask for your help spreading the word so more qualifying students can enroll in the program!

As you see, there is an opportunity to enroll more qualifying students in the National School Breakfast Program. For every 100 students participating in school lunch, only 46 participated in school breakfast. Children who have reliable access to nutritious food are better positioned to focus, participate and engage throughout the school day. By making meals available at school, these programs remove hunger as a barrier to learning and give children the opportunity to focus on what matters most which is learning.

At Hunger Task Force, we work with schools, community partners, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and other organizations to strengthen access to school meals and ensure children and families know where they can turn for food assistance. To learn more about qualifications and enrollment, email Tania Ramsey, Child Nutrition Organizer at Hunger Task Force, at [email protected].

The importance of school meals extends far beyond the cafeteria. School breakfast and lunch help families stretch their household food budgets to minimize the financial pressures that lead to choosing between groceries and paying for other essential household expenses.

Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.