Nourishing Our Communities
Take action today by (1) signing the petition to the Madison Metro School District (MMSD) School Board for free school lunch, (2) emailing the MMSD School Board to demand free school meals for all Madison school children, (3) donating to abolish MMSD school meal debt, and (4) joining the campaign as an organization looking to become a coalition partner to help us pressure the MMSD to fund free school meals, or as an individual interested in helping ensure no Madison child experiences hunger while in school!
The Problem – Food Insecurity and School Meal Debt
Food insecurity is at record highs while families struggle to make ends under capitalism and cost of living increases. School Meal Debt in Madison Metropolitan School District is over $235,000 and students miss meals every day because they can’t afford to eat. School meal debt impacts every student because “uncollectible” debt periodically gets paid for by the MMSD Food and Nutrition Budget, which directly reduces the funding available to feed all students.
Demand – Free and Healthy School Meals for MMSD
Madison Area DSA believes that no student should ever have to worry about going hungry at school. That’s why we’re fighting along with Freedom, Inc. and our passionate community partners to ensure that all Madison area public school children (K-12th grade) receive free and healthy school meals!
The campaign has two goals:
1) Abolish the current school meal debt in MMSD by raising over $240,000 through a community mutual aid campaign sponsored by Freedom, Inc.
2) Convince the MMSD School Board to fund free school lunches for all students to create a systemic solution to school meal debt moving forward.
A Community Campaign
We can only achieve our goal by building a strong coalition of students, families, teachers, and community members! Join Urban Triage, the WI Poor People’s Campaign and the rest of our campaign partners by getting involved in the Free School Meals for Madison campaign today.
Step 1. Support Universal School Lunch
Call on the MMSD School Board and Administration to Close the School Lunch Funding Gap in the 2024-2025 budget – by providing $2 million in funding to the Food and Nutrition Department to cover school lunch costs for families, ensuring free school meals for all! Click the button above or go to actionnetwork.org/petitions/free-school-meals-for-madison-petition to sign the petition.
MMSD must convert to a universal school meal funding system and invest in Food and Nutrition staff and equipment to prepare for an increase in food participation!
Step 2. Email the School Board
Email the MMSD School Board to Spend Potential Operating Referendum Money on Free School Meals! Use the draft email script below to send an email to the entire Madison Metropolitan School Board and Superintendent Gothard. Modify the script to add your own personal story. Click the button above or visit dsausa.us/emailmmsd to access the email script.
Email board@madison.k12.wi.us, and please BCC MADSA.schoolmeals@gmail.com so we can track our progress!
Step 3. Donate to Pay Off MMSD School Meal Debt
Contribute to our mutual aid campaign to provide direct relief to working families in the Madision Metropolitan School District who currently owe over $196,000 in school meal debt as of October 2024.
Together, we as a community can step up and pay off the current school meal debt while also advocating for systemic change. Contribute today!
Step 4. Join the Campaign
Take action and advocate for Free School Meals for Madison! We’re looking for individuals interested in helping Madison DSA generate visibility and power with this campaign, as well as community organizations would would like to become a coalition partner and help us pressure MMSD to fund free school meals for all Madison public school students.
Click the button above or email us at mailto:madsa.schoolmeals@gmail.com and let us know you’re ready help feed Madison school children!
Want to be a part of bringing positive change to your community? Join DSA and learn how you can make a difference.
Questions?
Contact madsa.schoolmeals@gmail.com.