“I am proud to say that Colorado has answered the challenge to fight childhood hunger by expanding a free meal program during the summer, when our children are at the highest risk of experiencing hunger,” Gov. Bill Ritter said. “Thanks to the hard work of our partners, Hunger Free Colorado, Share Our Strength, the Colorado Department of Education and so many others, we served 130,000 more free meals at community sites across the state this summer. That means tens of thousands more children received healthy meals, taking us another step forward in the battle against hunger.”
“I urge schools and community groups to use every resource possible to tackle this issue, including the school breakfast program, which provides free and reduced-price meals for students,” Gov. Ritter said. “We need to do everything we can to give our youngest citizens the best chance to succeed.”
Preliminary figures indicate that at least 900,000 free meals were served at more than 300 community sites across Colorado over the summer, a 17 percent increase compared to 2009, when less than 768,000 meals were served. The Colorado Department of Education will release final figures later this fall, after all of the meal sites submit paperwork for reimbursement for the cost of the program.
Gov. Ritter joined students this morning at Alsup Elementary School in Commerce City to eat breakfast in a classroom and encourage schools to join the School Breakfast Challenge, a new initiative to increase the number of students who participate in a free and reduced-price breakfast program in schools. Gov. Ritter launched the competition in July.
The School Breakfast Challenge is a key component of the Colorado Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, an ambitious initiative launched in November 2009 by Gov. Ritter, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien and partner nonprofits Hunger Free Colorado and Share Our Strength. The goal of the contest is to increase participation by 15,000 students statewide this fall in the program, which provides free and reduced-price breakfast in school cafeterias or in the classroom.
Studies show that students who eat a nutritious breakfast perform better on tests and show improved ability to concentrate and learn in the classroom.
Hunger Free Colorado is deploying staff and educators to schools to help them tailor a program best suited to their students and to overcome any barriers to the program. This fall, the three schools with the highest percentage increase in participation will receive cash prizes, along with separate cash prizes for the nutrition directors.
More information about the School Breakfast Challenge and the Colorado Campaign to End Childhood Hunger can be found at www.hungerfreecolorado.org/breakfast.
