WATERTOWN, M.A. – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) toured the Watertown Middle School Nutrition Program with Director of School Nutrition Brandon Rabbitt to highlight the recent increase in childhood hunger and the federal government’s work to address food insecurity. While there, she met with Rob Leshin, Director of the Office for Food and Nutrition Programs at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Watertown State Representative Steve Owens. They talked about growing food insecurity for children and families during the pandemic and the partnership between schools and the government to combat this crisis.  

“It is unacceptable for anyone in this country ‑ especially our children ‑ to go to bed hungry,” Assistant Speaker Clark said. “As we enter the summer months, it’s especially important that we provide meals to children and families and continue to make their wellbeing and success a priority. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan and the Biden administration, no kid should face food insecurity this summer.”

In March 2021, Congress included $12 billion in key investments in food assistance programs in the American Rescue Plan. In April, the Biden Administration also launched the largest summer food program in the U.S., which will provide 34 million kids about $375 per week throughout the 10 weeks of summer for food assistance. 

According to The Greater Boston Food Bank, prior to the pandemic, 1 in 11 people and 1 in 10 children in Massachusetts were food insecure. During the pandemic, those numbers have risen to 1 in 7, and 1 in 5, respectively. 

 Photos from today’s event can be found HERE.

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