D.C. Bill to Fight Child Hunger on Snow Days Supported By the Council

Six snow days during the District’s 2013 - 2014 school year meant six days that low-income students didn’t receive their school provided meals.

The D.C. Council adopted the plan Tuesday and will come up with a plan to feed students that will go into effect next year.

“Last year, we did not have an adequate plan to address child hunger on days when there was a school cancellation,” Councilmember Mary Cheh said in a press release. “There are over 50,000 students in the D.C. public school system who receive free or reduced-price meals.”

Councilmember David Grosso and Cheh proposed the bill “Student Nutrition on Winter Weather Days Act of 2014” or “SNOWW Days Act,” so that students would not go hungry due to inclement weather.

A final plan of a meal-delivery method is due by July 1, 2015 and will begin next October.

“When school is cancelled, these students lose access to these meals and are at risk of not meeting even the most basic daily nutritional needs. Having a school cancellation in childhood should mean building a snowman, outdoor play, and enjoying an unexpected break from school, it shouldn’t be a time of unavoidable hunger,” Cheh said in a press release.

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