This year, states had the chance to apply for federal aid to provide extra benefits for children who receive free or reduced school meals for the summer months. Forty states applied for \u2013 and received \u2013 this federal funding<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Missouri declined to apply for the funding, rejecting a $42 million grant which would have fed hungry kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Missouri government blamed a lack of infrastructure to support the program \u2013 even though Missouri is running in a significant budgetary surplus and had ample time to rebuild infrastructure before this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They didn\u2019t even start distributing 2022 dollars until this June.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Better late than never, I guess. But really?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yeah, the legislature was too busy attacking trans kids<\/a> and debating book bans to pass much of anything<\/em>, much less anything that would help working families.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy would Missouri reject free money to feed hungry kids?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In fact, our infrastructure is so bad, the state hasn\u2019t finished distributing aid from last year\u2019s<\/em> grant.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So\u2026 why didn\u2019t Missouri rebuild their infrastructure this year? Didn\u2019t they see this coming?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Well, summer\u2019s almost over. So now these kids can eat, right?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n