Day 15: The City Takes on Food Insecurity

There’s no doubt that the pandemic is taking its toll on all of us, physically, emotionally, and financially. Although this blog is dedicated to highlighting the struggles of educating children with special needs at home, I will always give credit where credit is due. I applaud the New York City Department of Education for taking on “food insecurity”, defined as the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

The NYC DOE has just made meals available to all New Yorkers— three free meals per school day at 400+ locations across the City. The meals will be provided in “drive-through'“ fashion to both children and adults alike, without the need to present identification or any other documentation.

I started out my career working for Bronx Legal Services, where I represented families living at or below the federal poverty line. I saw firsthand the courage it took for families to, not only advocate for their child’s special education, but also for their child’s basic necessities, such as food and housing. I hope that the DOE’s Grab & Go Meal Program provides some relief to those parents who are struggling to put food on the table in light of the health and economic crisis.

I am always encouraged when our government takes notice of our society’s most vulnerable groups and extends a helping hand. We are in this war against Covid-19 together, and together we will win.

If you are a parent whose income has been negatively impacted by the pandemic, you can book a consultation on my website to discuss free and low-cost legal services:  https://www.msrlegal.org/book-your-consultation.  Continue to follow me on Instagram at @msrlegalconsulting for the latest updates on special needs parenting in the wake of this pandemic.

Be well, and stay safe.

Oroma

Disclaimer:  Attorney advertising.  None of the content on this blog is intended as or constitutes legal advice, nor does it indicate an intention or commitment to represent any particular parent.