Ashley Wheeland, Director of Public Policy at Hunger Free Colorado, joins us this week on The West Steps to talk about Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA). In this episode, we learn how Proposition FF, which established the program,made its way to voters, what exactly the program does, and the many benefits that school districts and students will see by opting in to HSMA. Set to launch in fall 2023, this program is currently the most robust in the nation – positioning Colorado as a leader in combatting childhood hunger. With the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Emergency Allotments (EAs) set to end this month, more than 250,000 households and 499,000 individuals in Colorado will see a significant reduction in the amount of SNAP benefits they receive. This means the new HSMA program is even more critical to the food security and health of kids across the state. To learn more about Hunger Free Colorado’s work to combat food insecurity, visit their website.
