Maher and Oberacker announce support for universal free lunch

By Nadine Cafaro
Posted 2/21/23

State Assemblyman Brian Maher and Senator Peter Oberacker announced their support for legislation that would provide free lunch to all students K through 12 in New York last Friday. …

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Maher and Oberacker announce support for universal free lunch

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State Assemblyman Brian Maher and Senator Peter Oberacker announced their support for legislation that would provide free lunch to all students K through 12 in New York last Friday.

Lawmakers’ urgency on the subject follows the expiration of a federal program that provided free meals to students during the pandemic.

Superintendents and schools have asked legislators to consider free lunch for all, with Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas and Sen. Michelle Hinchey leading the effort.

“I’m proud to announce today that I’m co-sponsoring the assemblywomens’ legislation, and we are here today to announce and show our support for universal meals for all students K through 12 throughout the state of New York,” said Maher in the Wallkill Valley High School cafeteria.

He was joined by Oberacker, Wallkill Central School District Superintendent Kevin Castle, Director of the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley Sara Gunn and others. Castle noted how successful the program was during COVID.

“During COVID, here at Wallkill, when lunch and breakfast were free to all students, 600 more students on average daily were participating in our lunch and breakfast program compared to now when it’s not free to all students,” said Castle, who mentioned that only 53% of students eligible for free lunch utilize it because of a stigma surrounding it. He also brings up what this would do for school lunch debt.

“This would also eliminate the unpaid school meal debt that school districts incur each year. The year before COVID we incurred approximately $10,000 in unpaid school meal debt,” said Castles.

Oberacker also shared some words with determination to get legislation passed to make this happen.

“Every once in a while we get it right. Today, we got it right. We’re gonna get it right. No one should have to go hungry [when] we have the means,” said Oberacker.

Gunn shared words on behalf of the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, stating that they are fully in support of universal free meals. “Programs like a universal school meal will eliminate that problem and really no child should ever go hungry, especially over something like stigma,” Gunn mentioned.

Maher and Oberacker, both Republicans, are examples of the bipartisanship present in this legislation, since both González-Rojas and Hinchey are part of the Democratic party. In a statement by González-Rojas, she said, “Addressing hunger in our state should not be a partisan issue, but it should be of moral imperative.”

The two bills, NY A01941 and NY S01678 are in committee, and Maher called on leaders to follow suit and support.