Due to finances, our government and community has struggled with providing healthy and affordable meals to youth in our public school system. By providing students with Meatless Monday, a day in which all meals offered are vegetarian, not only would we be educating children on healthy alternatives we would also be helping the environment and scale back pollution as well. Factory farming is unfortunately where the majority of our meat, dairy and eggs come from. In most factory farms animals are abused, tortured, diseased and confined in spaces. In some severe situations, they are refused food and are forced to feed on deceased animals within their living quarters. Factory Farms account for 37 percent of Methane Emissions. Methane has 20 times global warming potential of CO2. Also some of these farms have dumped animal waste into our lands beloved water masses such as the Chesapeake Bay causing fish and other water creatures to die. Using factory farms also causes most local farms to go out of business and is a negative impact on our local economy.

Providing public schools with Meatless Monday is extremely finacially benefical as well. Currently in Baltimore Public Schools, meals range from $2.50-$3.00. Providing a meal that does not contain meat cuts the cost by 20 cents, meaning that our schools would save $43440 a year. This makes it possible for schools to spend finances in other departments that need the financial support more while educating children on healthy alternatives and lessening the depency of Factory Farming. 

By signing this petition, you have the potential to educate your community, better the environment and keep the youth heathly. Help me tackle this huge issue and put Meatless Monday in our public schools!