#USA #New York #Solving Hunger #Tusk Philanthropies #Universal School Meals

Solving Hunger's Campaign Wins in School Meals Expansion

On July 21, 2025, Solving Hunger, a project initiated by Tusk Philanthropies, celebrated substantial wins in its campaign efforts aimed at expanding school meals across the United States. As the push for universal school meals gains traction, the organization revealed that it secured victories in four states: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, and New York. The initiative succeeded in garnering an impressive $117 million in state funding that will facilitate 164.7 million additional meals per year for an estimated 600,000 children lacking regular meal access.

The transformative value of school meals is being recognized nationwide, with 2026 presented as a pivotal year. Changes in federal nutrition policy and funding—set to be fully implemented by January 2027—offer states the opportunity to re-evaluate and enhance their school meal programs. This year's momentum reflects a broader acknowledgment that the investment in feeding children is crucial, with nine states already adopting universal school meals and several more working on expanding access.

Bradley Tusk, founder of Tusk Philanthropies, emphasized the pressing need to address hunger, stating, "There are hungry kids everywhere, and feeding them nutritious meals at school is a worthy investment for schools, families, and communities." As the nation witnesses a shift toward universal meal programs, Tusk urges more governors and legislators to seize the opportunity to ensure no child goes hungry.

Campaign Highlights

1. Arkansas: By collaborating with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Solving Hunger succeeded in launching a $14.7 million campaign to provide universal free breakfast for all 475,000 K-12 students. This initiative will deliver 42 million meals to an additional 237,000 students who previously lacked automatic access. Notably, Arkansas will become the second state in the nation to offer such a program, leading as the first GOP-led southern state to implement universal meals.

2. Delaware: The efforts in Delaware led to the approval of a universal breakfast program for 141,000 K-12 students, extending 13 million meals to 77,000 more students. Tusk praised Democratic legislators for their pivotal role in garnering bipartisan support for this significant funding change, which redirected resources away from inefficient spending, ensuring every child has access to a nutritious breakfast.

3. North Dakota: The initiative in North Dakota empowered K-12 children from households earning up to 225% of the federal poverty level, which introduces 1.2 additional meals for around 3,300 students. Tusk commended the state's Republican leaders for prioritizing spending on education and children's needs, improving meal access in two legislative sessions.

4. New York: Solving Hunger partnered with coalitions in New York to reach a monumental agreement allowing universal school meals for 2.7 million K-12 students. This expanded effort will deliver an additional 108 million meals to approximately 300,000 children. Tusk celebrated Governor Hochul's leadership and the collaborative efforts of legislators, which ultimately put New York's ambitious school meal goals into action.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite the growing momentum, the campaign faced hurdles as witnessed in Ohio, where despite popular demand for expanded meal program participation, legislative resistance stymied progress. Furthermore, efforts in Oregon for universal school meals were hindered by a lack of legislative support, despite widespread public backing and favorable committee votes.

In closing, as Solving Hunger prepares to announce its 2026 grantees in October, there is hope that these initial wins can inspire further action nationwide, leading to an equitable school meal program that ensures that every child, regardless of their background, can access healthy meals—a basic necessity that every child deserves.