MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Elected officials were at a Marquette Elementary School this morning to serve breakfast to students to promote a program that is providing more than a million students statewide with free meals.
$160 million was allocated in the state budget this year to provide free breakfast and lunch to 1.4 million public school children in the state. According to state officials the program will save Michigan families over $850 a year. It will also free up time in the morning for parents that have jobs or other responsibilities.
“For a lot of families I think it can take some of the pressure off, and it also allows kids to have a lot more freedom when they get to school and start the day off with a good meal,” said State Senator Ed Mcbroom.
The breakfast provided to students includes cereal, crackers, milk, and a juice box, also served is fruit often grown locally.
“We wanna make sure that we are serving Michigan apples to Michigan kids, and keeping our farm economy strong,” said State Representative Jenn Hill.
Money for the program was received through federal funding in the state budget. State Senator Ed Mcbroom says he realizes the importance of the program but questions its long term viability.
“We will see what happens next year, with the budget we will see where we are at, but we have pretty much spent all of the surplus at this point, so I am not sure what will be happening next year,” remarked Mcbroom.
Senator Mcbroom noted that even if the free breakfast and lunch for all program does not continue past its current timeline of one year the federal free and reduced meal program will still be in place.
“There is still going to be that help for those who are really struggling,” added Mcbroom.
State Representative Jenn Hill feels differently about the program, according to her providing free breakfast and lunch long term for all students is a top priority.
“I just this week co-sponsored a bill that would make this program permanent,” Hill went on to say, “$160 million dollars in a $82 billion dollar budget is money very well invested in our children.
The bill co-sponsored by Representative Hill will have to pass through the House and Senate before becoming law. But for now every student will be able to start their school day with a full stomach.
