Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today.
Athletes enjoying a meal from the Beyond the Bell After School Supper Program. (Credit: LAUSD Facebook page)
LA Unified announced a major expansion of its after school supper program yesterday through its Beyond the Bell Branch.
The district currently serves 70,000 supper meals a day at 584 schools. Through new outreach efforts, the number could grow by more than a third, according to a district press release. It is also expected to generate net revenue of $16.6 million, as the program is fully funded through a USDA-sponsored program, Child and Adult Care Food Program.
“When kids are hungry, they don’t pay attention,” said LA Unified board member Bennett Kayser, according to the Associated Press. “This is something that should have started years ago.”
The district said expansion of the supper program includes foods like Chipotle chicken salad sandwich, Asian salad or BBQ chicken Slider
“The After School Supper Program aids our students in their academic performance in school,” Alvaro Cortés, executive director of Beyond The Bell Branch, said in a statement “The goal of the program is to provide those 18 and under access to a healthy meal.”