The Children’s Alliance
Seattle – January 28, 2013 – Washington afterschool providers came together today with anti-hunger advocates and child nutrition state and regional administrators to learn how to implement and expand the Afterschool Meal Program to receive federal funding to feed children afterschool, on weekends, and during school holidays. Working together, these stakeholders are helping to eliminate childhood hunger in Washington.
At the Luncheon: Eliminating Hunger After School: Expansion of the Afterschool Meal Program for Washington Kids, state and regional program administrators and advocacy organizations:
· Spoke about the connection between nutrition and educational enrichment,
· Presented an overview of the At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program,
· Provided information on how to apply to receive the federal funding available, and
· Discussed current opportunities for implementation and how to make the program work in a variety of settings.
“The Afterschool Meal Program can make a big difference for children in Washington,” said Linda Stone, executive director of the Children’s Alliance. “Many parents are struggling to hold onto jobs, working extra-long or nontraditional hours, commuting long-distances, or trying to get back into the workforce. They need care for their children in order to do that, so it absolutely makes sense to provide afterschool, weekend, and school holiday programs to help parents provide healthy food for their children.”
With its partners, the Children’s Alliance is working to increase the number of sponsors and providers participating in the federal Afterschool Meal Program so that more children in Washington can receive free meals and snacks, participate fully in their afterschool activities, and have access to the nutrition they need outside of school.
“The benefits of afterschool meal programs are boundless,” said Crystal FitzSimons of the Food Research and Action Center. “Access to afterschool meals improves students’ health, mental well-being, and their ability to fully participate and learn in afterschool activities. As a result, schools have higher overall achievement scores, and communities stay healthier.”
Washington’s childhood poverty rate is over 18 percent and the percentage of Washington families experiencing food insecurity has increased in recent years.
The Luncheon was organized by the Children’s Alliance and the Food Research and Action Center in partnership with the Afterschool Meals Workgroup, and with support from the ConAgra Foods Foundation.