Healthy School Meals for All Helping Students in Littleton

Senators Fields, Kolker and Michaelson Jenet met with students, faculty to discuss Healthy School Meals for All success

CENTENNIAL, CO – This morning, Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, joined Gudy Gaskill Elementary School students during their lunch period to learn about the impacts of Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) on Littleton Public Schools (LPS).

HSMA, which was championed by Fields and Michaelson Jenet in 2022, helps to ensure all Colorado students have access to nutritious food by providing districts with the opportunity to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. The 2023-2024 school year is the first year of its implementation after voters approved the initiative, and already Colorado schools are seeing the benefits. 

The senators were joined by LPS district leadership, including Superintendent Dr. Todd Lambert and Jessica Gould, Director of Nutrition. Thanks to HSMA, 60 percent more students are eating breakfast, and 40 percent more students are eating lunch at LPS. Additionally, the increased demand for school lunches is creating more jobs within the community because of the program.  

“Just like a child needs books to learn, they also need nutritious meals to be energized and focused in class,” Fields said. “With Healthy School Meals for All, we’re making sure kids aren’t shamed because they can’t afford to eat. It was great to see all the ways the program is helping students, families, and schools.”

“I had a great time at Gudy Gaskill Elementary today learning about the effects of Healthy School Meals for All,” said Kolker. “It’s clear that this program is helping students and families in communities I represent, and I’m eager to see the long term benefits it has on our children’s health and education.” 

“I’m proud to see the success of Healthy School Meals for All in action,” Michaelson Jenet said. “No child should go hungry at school because they can’t afford school meals – and now Colorado is doing right on that. Healthy School Meals for All is helping students get the nutrition they need to succeed both in and outside of the classroom while destigmatizing free lunches.” 

When temporary pandemic funding made school meals free, districts across Colorado saw 20 to 40 percent increases in students participating in school meal programs. HSMA bridges the gap for working families who previously didn’t qualify for free or reduced meals, but still struggled to make ends meet.

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About the Colorado Senate Democrats
The 23-member Senate Democratic Caucus for the 2023 legislative session includes Senators Stephen Fenberg, James Coleman, Robert Rodriguez, Julie Gonzales, Janet Buckner, Rachel Zenzinger, Jeff Bridges, Joann Ginal, Sonya Jaquez Lewis, Jessie Danielson, Faith Winter, Chris Kolker, Rhonda Fields, Chris Hansen, Nick Hinrichsen, Kevin Priola, Lisa Cutter, Dylan Roberts, Tom Sullivan, Janice Marchman, Kyle Mullica, Tony Exum, Sr., Dafna Michaelson Jenet