When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, federal policymakers acted quickly and decisively to make school meals available to all children at no charge.
This policy remained in effect for two and a half years. It was a game-changer.

https://thehill.com/opinion/education/3768955-what-families-lost-when-the-us-lost-universal-free-school-meals/

What families lost when the US lost universal free school meals

We have seen the benefits of easier access for families; now we are witnessing the perils of taking that access away.   

The Hill
@LiberalEffects if children are -required- to be there, we should be feeding them for free. Regardless of “need”. Full stop. And I’m an allergy mom, so I still have to pack my kid’s lunch so he doesn’t accidentally die and I’m still happy as a clam if everyone else’s kids are being fed on my tax dollars. Feeding people, children nonetheless, shouldn’t be controversial in a supposed first world country.