ST. GEORGE — Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households, because kids weren’t at school.
Those waivers are set to expire in a few weeks – and in Utah, groups that work to fight hunger warn that more children, especially in rural areas, will be at risk.
Neal Rickard – child nutrition advocate with Utahns Against Hunger – said the waivers allowed parents to pick up multiple meals for their kids at a time, and in one convenient location.
“You’ve got to recognize that meal service is still a critical part of the academic process for these kids,” said Rickard. “Just making sure that all the kids are fed nutritious food was a long way towards focus on detention and academic success both immediately and in the long term.”
One in 8 Utahns face hunger, and more than 51% of households with children rely on benefits from the Special Nutrition Assistance Program, called SNAP.
Leaders from across the country will gather April 28 at a Rural Child Hunger Summit to develop ways to ensure rural kids don’t go hungry as the nation shifts out of pandemic-era policies.
Rickard, who specializes in childhood nutrition, said with high energy prices and supply-chain problems, the demand for food assistance is skyrocketing in rural Utah.
“A lot of the things are problems that were waiting in the wings, things like labor shortages, things like meal planning,” said Rickard. “Those take investment and time at the level of the individual school district, at the level of the states.”
Rickard said while there may be some short-term adjustments if the pandemic waiver expires, school-based meals will still bring major benefits to rural communities.
“Parents need to know that even though there’s trouble right now, these are reliable, healthy source of food for their kids,” said Rickard. “Whether they are reduced lunches or not, it is a guaranteed, healthy meal that’s available to all of the students.”
Rickard says during the pandemic, while SNAP provided meals to some 355,000 Utahns, only one in five families that qualify for the federal benefit signed up to participate in the program.
Written by MARK RICHARDSON, producer for Utah News Connection.
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