I stand before you not only as a petitioner but also as a student struggling from firsthand experience of what it feels like to go without food. I watch as my peers battle the same challenge each day, as we are asked to pay for our lunch. No student should have to decide between nourishing their body and purchasing school materials. We must change this alarming reality.

In the United States alone, there are approximately 13.1 million children currently living in 'food insecure' homes [source: USDA, 2019 data]. This means that one out of six students you see every day may be grappling with hunger. Despite having a National School Lunch Program, not every student is able to access these subsidized or free school meals due to eligibility criteria that fail to account all scenarios.

It’s high time that ' access to food' stops being a privilege and becomes a basic right for all of our students. We all prosper when we invest in our youth by ensuring they receive adequate nutrition through mandating free school lunches nationally. This would allow not only for improved academic performance, but also foster better physical and mental health among our student population.

Raise your voice to bring an end to hunger in our schools. Sign this petition now and join in the fight for mandated free school lunches for all students nationwide. Together, we can make a significant difference!