With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
LAUSD will offer dinners to students as government shutdown delays SNAP benefits
With SNAP benefits set to expire Saturday, Los Angeles Unified School District will begin offering dinner to students.
(
Getty Images
)
About 600 Los Angeles Unified schools will start serving supper to offset expected delays to the federal food assistance program.
“The rumbling stomach of a child will prevent that child from learning,” said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho at a press conference Thursday. “It is not humane. It is not compassionate. We will not stand by it.”
Carvalho said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits feed about 217,000 students in the district.
The Trump administration has said it will not tap emergency funds to sustain the program, known locally as CalFresh, during the federal shutdown. That means no payments will be issued in November to the 1 in 8 U.S. residents who participate in the program. California is among the states suing to keep the SNAP funded.
Support for LAist comes from
Every LAUSD student already can get free breakfast and lunch at their school.
Find a meal program
Now, about 600 schools will provide supper to any child up to 18 years old Monday through Friday, even if it’s not the school they’re enrolled at. An LAUSD spokesperson said schools started serving supper to students Thursday and will open the program to the community Monday.
The meal will be served after dismissal and must be eaten on campus. The district also has set up a website with additional resources and has a 24/7 hotline for families at (213) 443-1300.
The nonprofit that supports LAUSD schools is raising money to support families affected by the loss of SNAP benefits.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails.
Best of LAist