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Food Bank coalition thanks legislature for prior aid, urges expansion of school‑meal pilots
Summary
The Food Bank of Alaska and the Alaska Food Coalition told the Senate Finance Committee that prior appropriations helped expand capacity and that the legislature should fund reduced‑price or free school meal pilots to address child food insecurity.
Ron Meehan, director of government affairs for the Food Bank of Alaska, told the Senate Finance Committee on Feb. 27 that state funding for food‑bank infrastructure has helped dozens of communities expand capacity and distribute more food statewide.
Meehan said funds previously approved allowed the Anti‑Hunger Network to support 42 organizations with facility upgrades, coolers and direct food purchases. He urged the committee to expand attention to student nutrition and to support reduced‑price or free school‑meal pilot programs, noting research that school meals reduce food insecurity and improve student nutrition.
Why it matters: The Food Bank emphasized that school lunches are often among the most nutritious meals children receive and that expanded school‑meal programs could lower food insecurity and related health impacts.
Ending: The organization thanked the committee for prior appropriations and asked lawmakers to support school‑meal pilot efforts during budget deliberations.
