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Governor Hochul Champions Universal School Meals in the 2025 State of the State

By January 14, 2025No Comments

Today, Governor Hochul made a historic commitment to address food insecurity in New York schools by including statewide universal free school meals in her 2025 State of the State address. Hunger Solutions New York applauds this critical investment in New York’s students, families, and schools. With this announcement, Governor Hochul has made it clear that New York will lead the way in ensuring all children have access to the food they need to learn and thrive.

Saves NY Families $165/month Per Child Per Month in Food Costs

Universal access to free school breakfast and lunch will alleviate hunger, support children’s mental and physical health, and provide much-needed financial relief to families. Free school meal programs save parents an estimated $165 per child in food costs per month. The savings are significant, particularly when New Yorkers in every corner of the state are struggling to make ends meet due to the rising cost of living.

The announcement follows a three-year effort led by the Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids coalition, a group of more than 300 nonprofits, parent and teacher groups, labor unions, and anti-hunger organizations, that is co-led by Hunger Solutions New York and Community Food Advocates. The coalition secured unprecedented state investments in the last two years, extending access to free school meals to more than 380,000 students in 1,400 schools. However, more than 280,000 children remain without access to this critical support. This proposal would fill that gap, providing free breakfast and lunch to all 2.7 million students in New York State.

Last week, Hunger Solutions New York joined members of the Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids coalition and legislative champions at Westbury Middle School on Long Island as Governor Hochul announced her proposal to include full funding for statewide universal free school meals in her upcoming executive budget.

Gov Hochul Universal School Meals press event
Hunger Solutions New York staff at Governor Hochul's school meals press event

While this marks a milestone in our push for universal school meals, our work to ensure that Healthy School Meals for All gets across the finish line in the final New York State budget continues. Visit SchoolMealsNY.org to learn what you can do to take action.

Hunger Solutions New York staff, partners, and legislators at Gov Hochul school meals press event