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“CRUNCHING” FOR HEALHTY SCHOOL FOOD 🍎   Today, the VFR team is getting involved in Coalition for Healthy School Food (Canada)'s #2024GREATBIGCRUNCH, a nation-wide initiative to promote healthy eating, food literacy, and a Canada-wide healthy school food program.   We’ll be joining schools, organizations, and communities across Canada in taking a synchronized bite into fresh, local apples (or any other crunchy fruit or vegetable).   The Great Big Crunch is a time dedicated to celebrating healthy food at school and highlighting the need for a universal school food program for Canada.   Did you know? 🍎 Canada is the only G7 country without a national school food program. 🍎 Canada is ranked 37th out of 41 countries when it comes to providing healthy food for kids. 🍎 One-third of students in elementary schools and two-thirds of students in secondary schools do not eat a nutritious breakfast before school. 🍎 Only about one-third of children between the ages of four and 13 years eat five or more servings of vegetables and fruit daily. (Photo: Vancouver Food Runners participating in the GREAT BIG CRUNCH!) Click the link to learn more and find out how to participate!

Food is a human right.

School food is a matter of justice. Food justice is key in building a world free from oppression. And schools—among the earliest places where kids learn about food, practice building community, and often get most of their daily nutrition—are critical in shaping this world for our kids. Read FoodCorps' blog "Why School Food is a Justice Issue" to learn why the movement for food justice must include school food. ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Lb12GC Share this post if you believe school food is a justice issue! 🥕

School food is a matter of justice. Food justice is key in building a world free from oppression. And schools—among the earliest places where kids learn about food, practice building community, and often get most of their daily nutrition—are critical in shaping this world for our kids. Read on to learn why the movement for food justice must include school food. ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Lb12GC

The thought of trying to care for a hungry child when you're struggling yourself is heartbreaking. It's not just about food—it's about ensuring families have the stability and support they need to thrive. At WithinReach, we're here to help, connecting families every day to critical resources like Basic Food (SNAP), WIC and emergency food resources. Our team makes the process simple, offering personalized support through our Help Me Grow Washington Hotline. One call can answer questions, offer guidance, and get families the help they need. Together, we can ease the burden and help ensure every family has what they need to grow and flourish. #FoodSecurity #ParentingTogether #EndHunger

🥦 Reid State Food Pantry: Supporting Students Every Step of the Way! 🫑 Don't let hunger stand in the way of your success. Visit the Reid State Food Pantry today and take advantage of this valuable resource designed to support you on your journey to achieving your academic goals. Together, we can ensure that every student has access to the nourishment they need to thrive. #ReidStateCares #SupportingStudents #FoodPantry 🌟

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is encouraging organizations across the state to help provide nutritious meals to children in low-income areas during the summer months through the Summer Food Service Program. Last summer, more than 200 organizations provided nutritious meals to children at approximately 1,750 locations throughout the state. However, to reach more children and narrow the hunger gap that summer may bring, more organizations and meal sites are needed throughout the state, especially in rural areas. Participating organizations must be year-round, not-for-profit entities, which include schools, local, municipal or county governments, libraries, churches, fire and police stations, residential summer camps, and national youth sports programs. Organizations approved to sponsor the program are responsible for managing the meal service sites that provide the meals to children. Beginning this summer, organizations serving rural areas may be approved to provide non-congregate meals, such as grab and go meals or delivered meals, to children in qualifying areas. For more information on becoming a participating organization or a meal site for the program, view the website at www.education.pa.gov/sfsp or call 800.331.0129. New sponsors must apply by May 1, 2024.

We need more of this! The devil is always in the details but still a good start. The first state-wide legislation of its kind, the Good Food New York bill (S.6955A /A.7264) allows municipalities to prioritize healthy food from vendors who promote community health, worker well-being, local economies, racial equity, animal welfare, sustainability, and transparency, rather than prioritizing the lowest cost.

Brilliant work going on here on so many levels

Delays in SNAP processing are very disheartening. Benefits and resources, like SNAP, serve as a lifeline for countless individuals, like Mary Helen, experiencing food insecurity right here in our community. 🍲 Access to nutritious food is a basic human right. The delays in SNAP benefits can have profound effects on vulnerable communities. 🤝 As a community, we must advocate for efficient and timely distribution of benefits, recognizing the essential role they play in addressing immediate needs and fostering long-term well-being. Let's do better, Texas. Let's ensure that these lifelines remain strong, offering hope and sustenance to those who need it most. #SNAP #FoodSecurity #CommunitySupport #Advocacy #SocialImpact https://lnkd.in/geWcwHqH