About 600 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools will start serving supper to students to help offset the expected delays in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known locally as CalFresh. This initiative aims to support children who rely on these benefits, particularly as the federal administration has stated it will not use emergency funds to sustain the program during the federal shutdown.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho emphasized the importance of nutrition in the learning process, stating, “The rumbling stomach of a child will prevent that child from learning. It is not humane. It is not compassionate. We will not stand by it.” Currently, SNAP benefits support approximately 217,000 students in the district.
New Meal Program Details
Starting immediately, supper will be available to any child up to 18 years old at approximately 600 schools across the district Monday through Friday, regardless of their enrolled school. The program commenced Thursday and will be open to the community starting Monday.
- The meal will be served after school dismissal.
- Students must consume their meal on campus.
For added convenience, LAUSD has launched a dedicated website with additional resources and established a 24/7 hotline for families at (213) 443-1300. Additionally, a nonprofit supporting LAUSD schools is actively fundraising to assist families impacted by the loss of SNAP benefits.