Texas Children Could Use School Food Pantry, Avoid Lunch Shaming Under Proposed Legislation

AUSTIN -- Lawmakers are trying to make it easier to feed hungry kids while preventing them from being shamed when their families don't have enough money to pay for lunch.The House gave preliminary approval Thursday to a bill that allows schools to create food pantries on campus using surplus from the cafeteria that would otherwise be discarded.Another bill by Rep. Helen Giddings, D-Dallas, would prevent schools from taking away meals served to students whose accounts run out of money. The education committee is expected to hold a hearing on the legislation next week. This comes shortly after New Mexico passed a similar law aimed at preventing "lunch shaming."The bills come at a critical time, as nearly 1 in 4 Texas children are food insecure, said Celia Cole, CEO of the nonprofit Feeding Texas. Public schools are often in the best position to help them, she said.  Continue reading...