SLATER ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM IN ALL NEW YORK SCHOOLS
- kyra840
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) hosted a press conference yesterday at John F. Kennedy Elementary School to announce the launch of Healthy School Meals for All, which takes effect this school year. A longtime advocate for addressing food insecurity, Slater previously created the Food Insecurity Task Force as Yorktown town supervisor and has been a cosponsor of this initiative since joining the Assembly in 2023. Slater was joined by local school leaders, superintendents, elected officials and organizations working to address food insecurity, who highlighted the impact this initiative will have on students and families in the Hudson Valley.
Assemblyman Matt Slater said, “This is a real milestone for New York families. With the full implementation of Universal School Meals, more than 2.7 million students across our state will now receive free breakfast and lunch each school day—no stigma, just healthy meals for every child. Every student deserves an equal shot at success, and providing the fuel they need to reach their potential is a lifeline I’m proud to see finally become reality.”
“Parents will save around $165 per child per month, or roughly $2,000 a year. At a time when 38% of households in both Westchester and Putnam counties fall below the ALICE survival threshold, these savings will provide relief,” Slater continued. “Students who are properly nourished have better attendance, higher test scores and more positive classroom behavior. No child in New York should ever sit in class hungry, and with this program, none will.”
Feeding Westchester Chief Operating Officer Tami Wilson said, “As Westchester County’s food bank, Feeding Westchester partners with 175 local organizations—including many school pantries—to nourish students and families in need. We thank Gov. Hochul, the Legislature, the Westchester delegation and Assemblyman Slater—a longtime champion of our mission—for the passage of Universal School Meals. This bill will expand free school meals to nearly 35,000 more students in 70 Westchester schools, including 8,000 students in Assemblyman Slater’s district. Together, we remain committed to building a future where every student and every neighbor has the nourishment they need to thrive.”
Director of Putnam CAP Marisa O’Leary said, “Universal free school meals not only help eliminate the stigma associated with traditional free and reduced cost meals, but also provide a significant financial benefit to families, including those who are just above the income threshold for traditional meal assistance. This program will help families save hundreds of dollars per child each month, freeing up resources for other essential basic living expenses.”
Brewster Superintendent Michelle Gosh said, “Thanks to the forward thinking of Brewster Central School District's Child Nutrition Services Director, Mrs. Cathy Hancock, we, as a district, qualified for the Community Eligibility Provision in November of 2023. As a result, all Brewster students were able to receive free breakfast and lunch. The impact was immediate. This not only allowed us to offer much-needed nourishment to all of our students in grades PK-12, but we also saw it lift worries from some students and their families, remove barriers to learning and diminish any stigma associated with needing this support. It was a transformational change within the district. Making meals universal for students across New York state scales and expands these efforts, eliminating the need to qualify on a yearly basis using criteria that could shift unexpectedly. We thank Assemblyman Slater for championing this effort for all NYS students, as we are all partners in fighting food insecurity for our students and within our community.”
Southeast Town Supervisor Nick Durante said, “The work that Assemblyman Slater has done for this program is exceptional; it is a reason I’m doing what I’m doing. Spending is out of control at the state level—this is what I consider responsible spending, and it brings people together in health and happiness.”
Mahopac School Board member Tanner McCracken said, “No child should ever attend school hungry. With free school meals for all, students can purely focus on learning, growing and thriving in a healthy and nutritious environment. Under the previous state budget, the Mahopac Central School District missed the threshold to qualify for free meals funding by just a few percentage points. This left hundreds of students, who could have benefited from free school meals, to miss out on this vital initiative. Along with parents and residents of Mahopac, we advocated for universal school meals. We are beyond thankful to Assemblyman Matt Slater for delivering this funding for all school districts in New York state. This will go a long way for Mahopac families.”
Mahopac Central School District Acting Superintendent Frank Miele said, “This investment by the state sends a powerful message about the importance of meeting students’ basic needs so they can thrive academically and socially. By removing barriers to healthy meals, we are ensuring every child in Mahopac has the opportunity to start the day ready to learn.”