Parents across Virginia want School Breakfast for all

Tita Escobar shared with us why healthy school breakfast for all is so important to her and her family.

As a parent with children in PWCS, I know firsthand the difference a healthy breakfast can make in a child’s day.

1 in 7 Virginia children don’t always have enough to eat. Schools can provide students with at least two healthy meals a day, but the current system leaves too many students behind. Access to school meals improves memory, focus, and classroom behavior, helping all students learn better. If we want our children to succeed, we must put resources toward helping them do well in school.

This issue is personal to me as a parent because I know what it feels like to worry about whether your child has everything they need to thrive. Mornings can be rushed, especially for working families. When parents drop their children off at before-school programs as early as 6 a.m., it may be too early for a full breakfast at home. For many families, school breakfast is not just helpful – it’s essential.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and no child should start school hungry. Free breakfast should be available to ALL students in Virginia, regardless of household income – not just those who qualify – because hunger does not discriminate.

Let’s put kids first and guarantee access to healthy breakfasts for all. Virginia lawmakers can create a future where every child is fed for success.