Donate to protect our programs. 

Skip to content
Thumb

FoodCorps Works Here

Begin your advocacy journey

Find easy ways
to use your voice

Create Advocacy Profile

Codified legislation

Massachusetts

Policy Snapshot

Passed School Meals for All legislation

100%

of students have access to free school breakfast and lunch.

Policy Landscape and Our Work

With advocacy from FoodCorps and our state partners at MA Farm to School through MA Food for MA Kids, the Massachusetts legislature passed a 2025 budget that included an amendment to fund $750,000 in continued farm to school grants and $250,000 for school wellness coaching.

The Massachusetts FRESH (Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health) Grant is a farm to school grant opportunity for K-12 schools and licensed early education and care centers to enhance or begin local food purchasing and food education initiatives. Administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the FRESH Grant aims to grow farm to school connections across the Commonwealth by providing targeted support for local procurement and experiential learning.

In 2025, FoodCorps and our partners with the MA Food for MA Kids Coalition are working to maintain funding for the MA FRESH Grant and introduce a pilot local food purchasing program so schools have access to additional funds to purchase fresh, local foods.

Take Action

Sign up to receive policy action alerts

Join the Movement

Sign up to receive policy action alerts and advocacy opportunities

Check to make sure you're registered to vote

Register to Vote

Check to make sure you're registered to vote

The back of a student sitting at a lunch table with a tray of food

Tell your Senators to extend School Meals for All

Contact Your Senators

Tell your Senators to extend School Meals for All

Dig Deeper

Article Image
2025

Massachusetts Fresh

Massachusetts Farm to School
Article Image
July 23, 2024

Massachusetts lawmakers approve universal free school meals for another year

Foodservice Director | Benita Gingerella
Article Image
August 16, 2023

Massachusetts Joins Short List of States Providing Free School Meals to All

EdWeek | Caitlyn Meisner

Legislative & Advocacy Resources

Key Players & FoodCorps Friends

MA Food for MA Kids Coalition

MA Farm to School

FEED Kids Coalition

Project Bread

MA Food System Collaborative

 

 

Legislative Champions

State Representative Andy Vargas

Senator Jo Comeford

Representative Patricia Duffy

 

 

Legislative profile

Governor

State Legislature

 

 

 

Massachusetts

Explore our Partner Sites in Massachusetts

 

 

See partner sites

Have feedback or recommendations for this page? Email us at advocacy@foodcorps.org.

FoodCorps is a non-partisan, non-profit organization. FoodCorps staff and FoodCorps AmeriCorps members may not participate in advocacy or lobbying activities during work time charged to an AmeriCorps funded grant or while earning AmeriCorps service hours. No federal funds were used to prepare or distribute advocacy content.

 

Last updated June 05, 2025