Free breakfast program expanded

August 19, 2008

NEAL P. GOSWAMI, Staff WriterArticle Launched: 08/16/2008 02:59:57 AM EDT
Saturday, August 16

BENNINGTON — Thousands of Vermont students will have access to breakfast for the first time this school year, which many say should help their scholastic performance.

The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, a statewide nonprofit organization that combats hunger through advocacy, education and technical assistance, said about 7,500 Vermont students will be able to eat free breakfast at school for the first time this fall, when an appropriation approved by the Vermont Legislature takes effect. Families who earn between 130 and 185 percent of the poverty level — between $27,000 and $38,000 for a family of four — could have only received a reduced price subsidized breakfast until this year.

VTCECH said school food service directors around the state have reported that many of those students often go without breakfast because their families are saving money for lunch, instead. As a result, those low-income students eat breakfast only about half as often as students who qualify for a free breakfast, the group said.

Fourth in nation

But this year, the Vermont Legislature made Vermont the fourth state in the nation to fund free breakfast for all low-income students in those schools that offer the federal breakfast program.

"These state funds will not only make sure that low income children have access to breakfast but will also bring $280,000 additional federal dollars into Vermont," said Sen. Susan Bartlett, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a statement.

VTCECH said research has shown the importance of school breakfast for health and learning by improving nutrition, preventing obesity, boosting students' achievement and reducing discipline problems at school.

But many Vermont families have trouble providing a healthy and filling morning meal for their children. In Vermont, about 25,000 households and over 70,600 individuals, including 19,000 children, are hungry or "food insecure," which means a family or an individual is unable to obtain enough safe and nutritious food from socially acceptable sources to lead an active and healthy life.

Rep. Ann Mook, D-Bennington, a member of the House Education Committee, said the money could help students in the Bennington area, which has a large number of low-income families.

"Obviously, for this area that has a low-income group of children, it will be a great benefit for them," she said. "Most educators will tell you they know exactly by nine o'clock in the morning who has not had breakfast. It's a real piece for success in school, and that's what we want. We want them to be in a good environment and able to learn."

VTCECH, which has worked with schools across the state since 1990 to assist in starting breakfast programs, said its work has increased the percentage of Vermont schools offering breakfast from 13 percent to 92 percent. The percentage places Vermont seventh in the nation in providing school breakfast to low-income children.

"Making breakfast free for low income students will remove one of the significant barriers to accessing breakfast and will help feed children this winter when household budgets are especially tight," said Dorigen Keeney, director of public policy and research for VTCECH.

Contact Neal P. Goswami at ngoswami@benningtonbanner.com.

August 19, 2008

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