Mississippi families struggling with food insecurity are bracing for another difficult summer after state officials declined millions in federal funding meant to help feed low-income children during school break.

The decision affects more than 324,000 children statewide and leaves families with fewer resources at a time when school meal programs are unavailable.

Sarah Stripp, director of socioeconomic well-being for the nonprofit Springboard Opportunities, works with families in federally subsidized housing and said the rejection of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer EBT program puts additional strain on struggling households.

"We know that many of our families struggle to be able to provide food for their families during the summer when they are not receiving those meals during the school year, which affects their ability to be able to do any of the things they want to do," Stripp explained. "If they're hungry, their children are hungry. That limits what they are able to do."

Gov. Tate Reeves cited a desire to reject "attempts to expand the welfare state" as the primary reason for opting out. Under the Summer EBT program, eligible families would receive $40 per month per school-aged child, amounting to $120 per child for the summer in grocery benefits.

Springboard Opportunities is stepping in to provide cash assistance to Jackson families living in federally subsidized housing but the organization can only reach a fraction of those in need. Stripp pointed out without federal aid, families are forced to redirect money from other essential expenses, such as gas and child care, to afford groceries.

"To not be willing to take federal funding that would go directly to families, that would be spent at local grocery stores, at farmers markets, to prevent summer food insecurities," Stripp observed. "To me, it's a baffling choice."

Stripp called on policymakers to listen to families' real struggles rather than rely on outdated narratives about poverty. While some school districts and community groups provide summer meal programs, many families in rural areas lack access to these resources due to transportation barriers and program limitations.


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New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank is again offering job training after its program was temporarily suspended during the COVID pandemic.

Teresa Trujillo, who leads the program at the Albuquerque warehouse and distribution center, said Roadrunner offers workforce training for eligible interns. She noted those who qualify can earn certification in forklift operation, OSHA and food safety standards, or get hands-on experience behind the wheel of a semitruck.

"What happens is we'll pay you while you learn," Trujillo explained. "If you're someone who's typically had difficulty finding work, for whatever reason, we try to address those issues with you; we include case management and peer support with job training."

Eligible interns include veterans, people with disabilities, those reentering the community through the justice system and adults who are entering or returning to the workforce.

While some interns go on to work full time at the food bank, others use their training to land reliable jobs across the state. Trujillo pointed out Roadrunner also works to accommodate jobseekers who face challenges finding employment.

"If you're going out and you're trying to find work and people aren't respecting the fact that you have children, or that you don't have a driver's license or transportation to work, or if you have a sick individual at home that you have to care for, too," Trujillo outlined. "We will set a schedule based on some of those things that you need for your home and your family."

Trujillo added those who participate learn transferable skills while contributing to the food bank's mission.

Research shows people experiencing food insecurity often suffer from chronic health conditions due to a lack of proper nutrition. Now, a group of Washington food banks is working to change it.

The Washington Food Coalition is collaborating with the American Heart Association-Washington branch, adopting the Association's nutritional guidelines for its local food pantries.

Chantal Brooks, founder and food safety manager for New Day Ministries in Bremerton, said her group's food pantry found many of its patrons come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"What prompted us to implement a nutrition policy is we began to notice that many of the people we serve, especially seniors and families with children, were struggling with health conditions like diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure," Brooks outlined.

Coalition research showed pantries with nutrition policies are better able to communicate with and educate donors, collect feedback from customers about their food preferences, and identify and offer healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables.

The Heart Association's guidelines aim to help customers battle conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease by prioritizing fresh, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods.

Elena O'Callaghan, community impact director for the American Heart Association of Washington, said nutrition policies help pantries focus on providing good outcomes.

"Agencies with nutrition policies felt much more confident in being able to define and discuss healthy foods," O'Callaghan observed. "A lot of people who run food pantries may have trouble defining 'What is a healthy food?' and 'How will I know it when I see it?'"

Brooks said her group's food pantry uses the Heart Association's nutrition policy as a guide for what food it purchases and collects.

"It's not necessarily that we will refuse any food," Brooks noted. "It just helps us to focus more on nutrient-dense foods, such as fresh vegetables and fresh fruits and nutrient-dense protein."

As Colorado lawmakers grapple with $1.2 billion in budget cuts, child nutrition advocates are turning to voters to protect funding for the state's Healthy School Meals for All program.

Dr. Sandra Hoyt Stenmark, clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado, said when a child has inadequate nutrition, they are more susceptible to acute and chronic illness, and more likely to miss school and fall behind academically and socially.

"We know that malnourishment and stress impair a child's immune function, and worsens chronic diseases such as asthma," Hoyt Stenmark explained.

Healthy School Meals for All serves more than 600,000 meals every school day, regardless of a student's ability to pay. Funding was meant to come from capping tax deductions on people earning $300,000 or more per year but the program's popularity has driven up projected costs. House Bill 1274 would put two measures on November's ballot asking voters to maintain existing funding and ensure long-term stability.

Thai Nguyen, executive director of Kaizen Food Rescue in Denver, said investing in students now will help them be better prepared to land jobs that pay enough to be financially independent as adults. She pointed out for many Colorado kids, the only real meal they get all day is at school.

"It improves students' academics performance," Nguyen emphasized. "Once they have full stomachs, they tend to focus better, score higher on assessments and have fewer behavioral problems."

The ballot measures would also expand the Local Food Purchasing Program, which allows schools to purchase fresh foods directly from Colorado farmers and ranchers.

Roberto Meza, a first generation farmer and CEO of the food distributor Hearty Provisions, believes the program is critical to maintain the viability of independent food producers.

"They have a reliable market for their product," Meza stressed. "That just eases so much stress and uncertainty on the farmer's part. And to know that it's going to feed kids, is just that extra layer of purpose and meaning."


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