New Jersey

The New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate is forming recommendations to the State of New Jersey on expanding access to school meals. FoodCorps and our partners at the School Meals for All NJ campaign are helping shape recommendations and lead efforts to engage communities across the state.

This past fall, the NJ School Meals for All Coalition celebrated National School Lunch Week with legislator visits to schools across the state, observing lunchtimes and learning about the impact of free school meals on students throughout New Jersey. Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill, Assemblyman William W. Spearman, and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson participated in events that included tours of lunchrooms during setup and mealtimes, farmer’s markets, and time spent with school staff members.

In the new year, the coalition supported events at three technical high schools including, one at Donald M Payne Sr. Technical High School with FoodCorps’ NJ Alumni Advocacy Lead, Amarilys Mockabee Olivo. These events focused on bringing youth voice to the state advocacy effort through a student postcard campaign and student led video project in support of school meals for all.