Project Bread Celebrates the Passing of Universal School Meals in MA

BOSTON, Mass. – This academic year, Massachusetts officially passed universal free school meals, ensuring all K-12 students will have access to free school lunch and breakfast each day. On Nov. 9, Project Bread, leader of the statewide legislative campaign to pass School Meals for All, and members of the nonprofit’s Feed Kids Coalition gathered to celebrate the passage of universal school meals legislation at Fenway Park’s 521 Overlook.

“Permanent free school meals means every student has the food they need, no questions asked, forever,” says Erin McAleer, Project Bread CEO. “Eliminating labels and removing this pressure off hard-working families is long overdue. This legislation transforms a system that has been broken for decades, and now, Massachusetts is leading on investing in the well-being of our children for all generations to come.”

Under School Meals for All, the Commonwealth will supplement the federal meal reimbursement rates to school nutrition departments for every meal served, so schools can offer breakfast and lunch to all students for free. Just as no student is required to pay fees at public schools when they enter the classroom, there will be no financial barrier in the school cafeteria.

This legislative win is celebrated by the diverse cohort of stakeholders Project Bread engaged, including school districts, social justice organizations, healthcare institutions, houses of worship and others who make up the Coalition, as well as Project Bread’s Hunger Action Team, with over 4,200 advocates who called, e-mailed, and tweeted at their elected officials to ensure School Meals for All remained a top priority in the State House. Thanks in part to their efforts, no child will go hungry while in school across the Commonwealth.

“Project Bread gave me a platform to speak on the issue at hand, and I shared my story of facing food insecurity as a child to state representatives and state senators alike, school faculty across Massachusetts, and my peers…I witnessed, first hand, that my advocacy can take me further than I could’ve ever imagined. Now I feel driven to use this experience to inspire others and further show the people within our government the change that our state's youth can make,” 17-year-old youth advocate Addario Miranda shared in his remarks for the evening.

During the event, Project Bread recognized Governor Maura Healey, Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Michael Rodriques, Senator Sal DiDomenico, House Speaker Ronald Mariano, Representative Aaron Michlewitz, and Representative Andy Vargas for their leadership in solving child hunger in Massachusetts. Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll and joined the event to welcome guests and share their commitment to feeding kids. Instacart representative Robin Sommer led the way in thanking coalition members for their tangible impact, and Project Bread CEO Erin McAleer and Addario Miranda shared personal remarks celebrating this statewide victory.

McAleer said, “Every day, I am inspired by our coalition’s unwavering determination and deep devotion. The stories, the shared experiences, and the unyielding commitment serve as a constant source of inspiration…Together, we made what felt impossible, possible. This is just the beginning. We have demonstrated exactly what we are capable of - shining a spotlight on Massachusetts as a national leader in ending hunger.”

Project Bread works to ensure children have year-round access to food through school and summer meal programs. As part of a long-term partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the nonprofit is working to support critical meals for students such as implementing and expanding school breakfast after the bell programs, improving school lunch meal quality, supporting school nutrition staff with resources and training year-round, and bolstering Summer Eats promotion and access across the Commonwealth.

About Project Bread: Project Bread is Massachusetts’ leading food security organization, connecting people and communities in Massachusetts to reliable sources of food while advocating for policies that make food more accessible—so that no one goes hungry. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org

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