Surrounded by students and state lawmakers, Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Maple Point Middle School in Middletown on Friday.
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The Democratic governor was emphasizing the significance of the state’s new universal free breakfast program.
Credit: Neshaminy School District
The program, which will provide free breakfasts for students, was a top priority in Shapiro’s inaugural budget speech and gained bipartisan support in the legislature.
The 2023-2024 state budget earmarks an additional $46.5 million to fund universal free breakfasts and free lunches for all 22,000 students who qualify for reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program, officials said.
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In the Neshaminy School District, all 9,527 students will be eligible for free breakfast, and over 6,000 additional students will now receive free lunch, including 800 students at Maple Point Middle School.
Statewide, close to 1.7 million students will benefit from free breakfasts, and 76,000 of those students will get free breakfast in Bucks County, according to the governor’s office.
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Maple Point Middle School Principal Andy Sokol said in a video posted by the district that the students were excited to meet the governor.
Joining Shapiro were State Sen. Frank Farry, a Republican; State Rep. Joe Hogan, a Republican; State Rep. John Galloway, a Democrat; State Rep. Tim Brennan, a Democrat; State Rep. K.C. Tomlinson, a Republican; Bucks County Commissioners Bob Harvie and Diane Ellis-Marseglia, both Democrats; and members of the Neshaminy School Board.
“With support from both sides of the aisle, this bipartisan budget delivers on that promise and levels the playing field by providing more than 1.7 million Pennsylvania students, including more than 1,200 students at Maple Point Middle School and more than 76,000 students across Bucks County, with free breakfast to start their day,” Shapiro said.
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Farry emphasized the necessity of the free lunch program and the benefit in helping children with hunger and food insecurity challenges.
“One in eight children in Pennsylvania face hunger and food insecurity. Bucks County is not immune to that and why I am pleased to support the universal free breakfast program,” Farry said. “It was an honor to have Governor Shapiro join the students and talk about this important program in Neshaminy School District, where I graduated.”
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Shapiro and the lawmakers had a chance to see students served breakfast, spoke to them about how legislation is created and passed, and asked them other questions. The governor also talked to middle schoolers about working together with others, whether in Harrisburg or in school, despite differences in opinion.
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