As the mayor of Brownsville, I place the health of our community among my top priorities, beginning with our youngest residents. As we collectively face historic inflation rates and expired pandemic-era benefits, additional resources are needed to ensure our children live healthy, successful lives. A new poll by No Kid Hungry Texas found that 73% of Texas adults are having a challenging time affording groceries, with rural families and those with school-aged children being hit the hardest. Even working and middle-income families are feeling the pinch.
School meals are a vital source of nutrition for the 1 in 4 kids facing food insecurity in Cameron County, but many parents struggle to afford them. Reduced-price breakfast and lunch still cost up to 40 cents each, which quickly adds up for families with more than one school-aged child, especially for those living paycheck to paycheck. Right now, the Texas Legislature has a prime opportunity to impact the lives of more than 230,000 children by covering the cost of reduced-price school meals. Eliminating this burden could go a long way to help families cover other necessities, like food at home, school supplies and new shoes for growing kids.
Our state has a massive budget surplus, and for just a drop in that bucket we can ensure our youngest Texans are well-nourished and ready to thrive in and out of the classroom. If you ask me, that’s a wise investment.
Juan “Trey” Mendez
Brownsville mayor