NEW MEXICO APPLESEED

HUNGER --FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL NEW MEXICO APPLESEED WORKED FOR 15 YEARS TO CREATE A ROBUST PLAN TO PROVIDE FREE MEALS FOR EVERY NEW MEXICO CHILD. IN 2019, APPLESEED PASSED LEGISLATION ELIMINATING REDUCED-PRICE COPAYS, MAKING 12,000 STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS. THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, APPLESEED HELPED PASS UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEAL THAT ALLOWS 70,000 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS STATEWIDE TO RECEIVE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR FREE. THIS 30 MILLION INVESTMENT WILL HAVE A PROFOUND, LONG-LASTING IMPACT ON COMBATING CHILDHOOD HUNGER WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND FAMILY ECONOMIC STABILITY. --ENSURED FREE BREAKFAST AFTER THE BELL IN 2011, NEW MEXICO APPLESEED WAS THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO LEGISLATE AND MANDATE BREAKFAST AFTER THE BELL FOR LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS. THIS REQUIRED ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO SET ASIDE TIME FOR CHILDREN TO EAT BREAKFAST AFTER THE BELL RANG. THIS PROGRAM RAPIDLY EXPANDED BREAKFAST TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY, ENSURING THEY BEGAN THE DAY WITH A HEALTHY MEAL. IN 2019, NEW MEXICO APPLESEED EXPANDED THAT WORK TO COVER ALL HIGH- POVERTY SCHOOLS K-12. APPLESEED IS WORKING WITH THE NEW MEXICO PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (PED) AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AS A WATCHDOG TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW. FULL COMPLIANCE WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED 12,000 MEALS PER DAY FOR HUNGRY KIDS. --EXPANDED SUMMER MEAL ACCESS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & CARE DEPARTMENT (ECECD) ASKED NEW MEXICO APPLESEED TO LEAD IN GIVING OUT 1.5 MILLION IN SUMMER MEAL EXPANSION GRANTS THAT THEY HAD DIFFICULTY DISTRIBUTING. NEW MEXICO APPLESEED HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN CONTACTING ELIGIBLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND NONPROFITS IN TRANSFORMING THEIR PROGRAM TO EXPAND SUMMER MEAL SERVICE TO MORE CHILDREN IN RURAL AREAS. THIS INCLUDES MORE MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION, RENOVATION, HIRING OF NEW EMPLOYEES, AND TRANSFORMING THEIR MENUS AND ACCESS TO HEALTHIER FOODS. DISTRICTS ARE USING FUNDS TO EXPAND OUTSIDE THEIR DISTRICT AND INCORPORATE MORE AREAS NEEDING SUMMER MEAL SERVICE. NEW MEXICO APPLESEED DOES THIS WITH DONOR AND GRANT DOLLARS AND DOES NOT TAKE STATE FUNDS FOR THIS WORK.