The San Francisco Food Bank helps feed thousands of children every day, but we can’t end childhood hunger alone—Congress needs to step up by making this year’s Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act stronger than ever.

The Act, which sets rules for child food programs like school breakfast, lunch, afterschool snacks, and summer meals, is the first defense against childhood hunger in America. But these programs must be revisited and reauthorized by Congress every five years—and this time around we are calling on Congress to make a stronger investment in our children’s health and education.

Strengthening these vital food programs is as simple as ABC:

A is for Access
Fewer than half the eligible kids in San Francisco and Marin get the free or reduced-price school meals they qualify for. That means kids in our region are losing out on over $10 million in federal funding. Congress must improve access to school meals by reducing barriers to participation.

B is for $1 Billion
President Obama has asked for $1 billion to be added to the child nutrition budget this year. Congress should allocate at least $1 billion to support President Obama’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.

C is for Classroom Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and every child should start their day with a full stomach so they are ready to learn and not distracted by their growling tummies. Providing breakfast to all students during class time ensures all kids start the day focused on learning.

Click here to ask your Congressional representative to support a stronger Child Nutrition Reauthorization.