Free breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available for pick-up for all children, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced as the ongoing federal government shutdown is set to suspend CalFresh or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) services on Nov. 1.
The district pledged to provide meals to families impacted by the lapse in CalFresh benefits and step up its community engagement as it did during the coronavirus pandemic.
It is estimated there are about 1.5 million CalFresh recipients in LA County. As more than 80% of LAUSD students come from low-income families who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, the district estimates students from more than 270,000 families rely on food benefits.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said most LAUSD schools will now be offering cooked dinner will be available. The district already provides free breakfast and lunch to all LAUSD students.
“Students are afraid that come Nov. 1, there will not be food for them to eat,” Carvalho said during a news conference Thursday. “The rumbling of stomach of a child will prevent that child from learning. It is not humane. It is not compassionate. We will not stand by it.”
See here for a new website launched by the LAUSD to outline the food-distribution program and other assistance efforts available to families. Details about the district’s Education Foundation Compassion Fund, which allows people to make donations to support families in need, are also available.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta visited a Los Angeles food bank Thursday and assisted with preparing food for distribution to families who are about to lose their federal benefits.
“The irreparable harm to families, food banks, our state, California businesses and our economy is immense, and it is imminent,” Bonta said of the pending lapse in federal benefits.
Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom this week announced a lawsuit seeking to force the federal government to dip into a $6 billion reserve fund to pay out November benefits.
Newsom previously deployed the California National Guard to the state’s food banks to assist with the anticipated spike in demand for meal distribution. The state also fast-tracked $80 million in state funds to help alleviate the crisis.
City News Service contributed to this report.