FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jessica Ng | jng@mercuryllc.com | 510-508-2836
January 8, 2021
No Kid Hungry California Responds to Governor Gavin Newsom’s State Budget Proposal
Pasadena, Calif. – No Kid Hungry California Director Kathy Saile today issued the following statement applauding Governor Gavin Newsom’s continued commitment to an equitable and broad-based recovery and urging continued focused support for students and families who rely on school nutrition and other anti-hunger programs, as well as the staff who are continuing to feed families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Food service workers who have continued to provide meals to families in need while students are learning remotely are among the many unsung heroes of this pandemic. Ensuring robust support for these essential workers and the schools and programs working to mitigate food insecurity in our communities is more crucial than ever to advancing equity and recovery. That’s the reason we’re grateful for Governor Newsom’s past and continued support of these programs, and we’re pleased the state is prioritizing these essential workers for COVID-19 vaccines, which will help protect those who are working tirelessly to keep families fed now and when schools eventually resume hybrid and in-person learning. We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and the Legislature to ensure adequate funding and support for these vital programs, their hard-working staff and volunteers and the children and families who rely on them.”
Seventeen million kids could face hunger this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, including more than 2.2 million right here in California. Last year, the California State Legislature and Governor Newsom allocated $192 million toward emergency school meals, which remain available to all children age 18 and under without enrollment. To support the schools and nonprofits that are distributing meals,
No Kid Hungry California has provided a total of $4.1 million in grants since the beginning of the pandemic to help ensure all children in California can continue to get the food they need even as they learn at home.
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions don’t know where their next meal is coming from. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign by Share Our Strength, an organization working to end hunger and poverty.