Massachusetts lawmakers call for free breakfast and lunch for all schoolkids

Lawmakers in Massachusetts want to make the free school breakfast and lunch program permanent.

The "School Meals for All" bill would provide food without the need to sign up for a special program or meet any income requirements.
Project Bread – a hunger advocacy group – reports one in four kids in the Bay State is food insecure. However, their families make too much money to qualify for federal food programs.

“We should take the things that worked well during the pandemic and make them permanent in our recovery. Massachusetts is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, and that’s why we have so many kids that are food insecure but still don’t qualify for free or reduced price lunch," said Democratic Rep. Andy Vargas of Haverhill.

The pandemic-era food program is set to expire on June 30.