This week marks National School Lunch Week, when we spotlight the role schools play in helping combat childhood hunger. At the same time, we recognize the dedication of our food service workers fighting that battle.
The National School Lunch Program was established in 1946 to provide nutritious meals to children who might not otherwise have access to a daily meal. The program expanded to include breakfast, again recognizing that providing all students with the fuel their minds and bodies need to grow is vital.
National School Lunch Week was created in 1962 to publicize the fact that hunger can keep kids from learning and to emphasize the important role schools play in providing healthy, nutritious food to students.
In our school district, all students receive free breakfast and lunch at school through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision. We also have numerous community partners who assist us in addressing families’ food insecurity outside of the regular school day.
The City School District of Albany is fortunate to have Lisa Perron leading its Food Service Department. She and her team fulfill an important role in helping to assure that our students have access to nutritious food – especially those students who come to school hungry. We are grateful for their service and all they do to support our students.
