Hinchey Applauds Kingston CSD for Providing Free School Meals to All Students

KINGSTON, NY – As the sponsor of legislation (S1678A) to fund free school meals, Senator Michelle Hinchey today released the following statement recognizing the Kingston City School District for opting in to new State funding that will allow the district to provide universal breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students in Kingston schools.

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “It is incredibly exciting to see Kingston CSD taking advantage of the funding we secured in the State budget to expand free breakfast and lunch to all students. I was proud to have led this effort in the Senate because we know that feeding students is transformative in keeping our kids healthy, helping them learn, and eliminating the social stigmas that hold students back, all while providing families with a lifeline that puts more money back in their pockets. I applaud Kingston CSD for implementing this critical program and for their partnership in combating child hunger here in Ulster County.”

In May, Hinchey announced that due to her advocacy in FY’24 budget negotiations, $135 million in new funding was secured to expand access to free school meals, making 88.7% of schools in Hinchey’s district eligible to provide students with free breakfast and lunch, including the Kingston City School District. As a result, more students, families, and schools now have an opportunity to benefit from access to meals at no cost, minimizing stigma, eliminating unpaid meal charges, and reducing paperwork and meal service operations for school staff and families.

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