SAUGUS ― Tuesday was the first day of school for students and they didn’t have to worry about bringing lunch.
Saugus Public Schools announced on Sept. 3 that every student will have access to free breakfast and lunch at school.
With times varying from 7 to 8 a.m. depending on the school, Saugus students can arrive at school early and start their day off on the right foot with breakfast.
Up to 12 million children are currently living in households where they may not always have enough to eat during the pandemic, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The ability for Saugus schools to have free breakfast and lunch is in large part thanks to the USDA.
School Committee Chairman Tom Whittredge said that, in reality, this is something that the school should already be doing.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” Whittredge said about Saugus providing free breakfast and lunch to students. “It’s something that we should be doing anyway. No kid should have to worry about not being able to eat when they come to school or not being able to eat before school.”
School Committee Vice Chair Ryan Fisher said that when the COVID-19 pandemic first started, ensuring that students had access to food was an important issue to tackle.
“When the pandemic first started, the district administration, Whitsons, and Healthy Students Healthy Saugus all came together quickly knowing that many of our students rely on school breakfast and lunch for their nutrition,” said Fisher. “After two tough years, every student will face their classes with a full belly.”
On the federal level, this is also an important issue as the nation continues to grapple with the pandemic.
“USDA will remain relentless in ensuring our nation’s children get the critical nutrition they need,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “States and districts wanted waivers extended to plan for safe reopening in the fall. USDA answered the call to help America’s schools and childcare institutions serve high-quality meals while being responsive to their local needs as children safely return to their regular routines. This action also increases the reimbursement rate to school meal operators so they can serve healthy foods to our kids. It’s a win-win for kids, parents and schools.”
