Child Nutrition Wins in 2009

December 2010

Congress postponed the reauthorization of child nutrition programs until 2010, but 2009 still saw several important gains for hungry children.

Increasing program access and participation is Bread’s top priority for reauthorization. Only 12 percent of children who receive free or reduced-price school meals get food through a summer program, and an estimated 1 million children participate in SNAP but do not receive free school meals. The FY10 agriculture appropriations bills would help close the summer food gap by exploring new methods of feeding kids during the summer and would increase participation in school meals by improving direct certification of eligible low-income children.

The Hunger-Free Communities Program received initial funding of $5 million for FY2010. This grant program will support local anti-hunger efforts.

Low-income children and pregnant women will have access to more nutritious foods—such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables—thanks to improvements in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food package.