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To the Editor:

The coronavirus has caused both a catastrophic health crisis and an economic one, pushing thousands of families into poverty and hunger here in Kentucky where nearly 30% of the state labor force has filed for unemployment since March 14.

Even in this crisis, we’ve been able to make sure children are still fed. Nationwide child nutrition waivers issued by the USDA gave school districts and community groups across our great state the ability to reach kids by allowing them to package meals for families to pick up, or for meals to be dropped off at a child’s home. Kids were fed.

Now these nationwide waivers are set to expire at the end of June, at the height of summer hunger. Without the flexibility these waivers provide, schools and community organizations will not be able to reach hungry kids with the food they need this summer, especially students living in the most rural areas of Kentucky.

I hope our representatives in Congress, Senator McConnell and Senator Paul will help us feed kids this summer by urging the USDA to extend all nationwide child nutrition waivers through September 30. The road to economic recovery begins with families in Kentucky having the food they need for kids to thrive.

Sincerely,

Kate McDonald

No Kid Hungry Kentucky Campaign, Feeding Kentucky