A proposal to give free school lunches to all students in the state regardless of family income passed unanimously in an assembly committee last week. Advocates have long argued that universal free school lunch would remove the stigma that keeps some hungry students from participating in current programs.
Statewide data shows that 1 in 12 households in New Jersey struggles with food insecurity, especially because of the high cost of living. Lisa Pitz, director of Hunger Free New Jersey, is one of the bill’s main supporters. She discusses why she believes it is so important.
Support for “Hunger in NJ” has been provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
