On March 25, ADA joined 56 other national public health, education, school nutrition, anti-hunger and child advocacy organizations on a letter offering appreciation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for waivers enabling school meal programs to provide school lunch and breakfast for pickup during coronavirus-related school closures while calling on USDA to do more.  Specifically, the letter asked USDA to take additional steps to ensure meals continue to be provided to those in need during the national emergency, including reimbursing school meal operators for all meals at the higher, free-breakfast or free-lunch rates and waiving  individual eligibility requirements for free meals. 

Food insecurity increases risk for type 2 diabetes and is associated with worse glycemic control. In addition to addressing children’s immediate nutritional needs, evidence indicates that meals provided at school are effective at reducing overall household food security. For the people with diabetes, their families and their communities weathering this public health emergency and its economic fallout, sustaining access to the nutrition that school meals provide is imperative.