The Feed

Illustration by Amanda K Bailey

Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19th, is a significant day in American history. It marks the emancipation of the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, in 1865—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Juneteenth is a time for reflection, celebration, and community, and at We Don’t Waste, we recognize the important role that food plays in these festivities.

Food and Juneteenth: A Celebration of Culture and Resilience

Food has always been central to Juneteenth celebrations. Traditional dishes like barbecue, red velvet cake, and collard greens are staples at gatherings, symbolizing unity, resilience, and the rich cultural heritage of Black communities. Red foods and drinks, in particular, hold special significance, representing the bloodshed and sacrifices of those who fought for freedom and the resilience of the Black American spirit.

However, while many celebrate with abundance, it’s crucial to acknowledge that food insecurity remains a pressing issue for many families. Access to nutritious and culturally significant foods is not a reality for all, and this disparity is a reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by marginalized communities.

Food insecurity disproportionately affects Black communities, reflecting broader systemic inequalities. In fact, the USDA reported that in 2022, 1 in 5 Black Americans experienced food insecurity. Approximately 5% of the greater Denver county identifies as African American, and about 10% of those living in the Denver metropolitan area. There are tens of thousands of Black Americans that will experience food insecurity at some point this year. 

By rescuing surplus food and providing no-cost food access across our community, We Don’t Waste aims to bridge this gap and support families in celebrating every day with dignity and nourishment. We provide food to several local Black-led nonprofits that, in turn, provide food access as a part of their programs to holistically take care of our neighbors. Some examples of these incredible partners are Struggle of Love Foundation, Street Fraternity, and the Second Chance Center. 

Food is more than sustenance; it is a means of bringing people together, preserving traditions, and fostering a sense of belonging. 

Join Us in the Fight Against Food Insecurity

As we celebrate Juneteenth, let’s keep in the mind the importance of food in our cultural celebrations and the pressing need to address food insecurity. Together, we can make a difference. Your support helps us rescue more food, reach more families, and honor the spirit of Juneteenth by ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious meals.

Join us in our mission to reduce food waste and fight hunger. Volunteer, donate, or partner with We Don’t Waste and be part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact!

A crowd celebrates the Juneteenth Festival in 2021 in Colorado.

I think we can all agree that keeping kids fed, especially while they’re at school, is incredibly important, and crucial for learning. It’s why we’ve seen so many states adopt free school meals for students regardless of their economic demographics. As of April 2024, 8 states have policies in practice regarding free school meals, with Colorado having adopted the Healthy School Meals for All Program just this school year! There are an additional 28 states that have similar legislation in the works, or just recently passed. This level of popularity and agreement across so many states demonstrates how much we care about keeping kids fed. 

Why then, is there a drafted Federal budget for 2025  proposing the elimination of the Community Eligibility Provision from the School Lunch Program? For those who may be unfamiliar with Community Eligibility Provision, it is a program that allows the nation’s low income schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students, without the need to collect individual household applications.  In this budget, it is proposed that the Community Eligibility Provision be cut, and only those who are financially eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch through the National School Lunch Program application receive meals at no cost throughout the school year. 

It might seem like this would be a good idea to reduce federal costs to only provide for those who are explicitly below the federal level of poverty; however, we already know that there are 1 in 6 people currently who are eligible for public benefits such as SNAP who are not enrolled, and thus are not utilizing the assistance they are entitled to. This tells us that eligibility alone for the program does not mean that people will receive their needed access to nutrition. Food insecurity continues to rise, with 11.2% of Coloradans not having enough to meet their nutritional needs, 25% of whom are children.

The “why” behind this proposed cut is stated to be preventing “widespread fraud.” The citation is coming from this report, which states that there is a higher rate of students using FRL programs than there were rates of improper payment, or the number of kids who were not able to pay for their meals in full, or pay off any balance owed to the school for meals, in schools. However, this report is older than the Healthy School Meals for All Program, which ensures that all kids in an eligible school can eat for free and thus have better cognition, which leads to improved performance in school. The citation doesn’t make sense as an argument to punish kids who need access to nutrition, especially when the need is so blatantly evident. 

Here in Colorado, Healthy School Meals for All has been a massive success. Every eligible district has enrolled in the program, and there has been a 36% increase in breakfast and 31% increase in lunch provided to students. With food costs continuing to rise, with a projection of yet another price hike, these programs can be what makes or breaks a family’s budget. On average, a family saves $1,250 per child each year because of Healthy School Meals for All. 

If you’d like to show your support for keeping school kids fed, please contact your representatives. This form will send an email to applicable representatives to show your support for Healthy School Meals for All.