Sen. Vitelli appointed to serve on Commission to End Student Hunger

AUGUSTA — Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, has been appointed to serve on the Commission to End Student Hunger.

The Commission is comprised of lawmakers and experts in the field who work together to implement the 5-year plan to end student hunger developed by the Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine, and update the plan as necessary. Among other responsibilities, the group also can conduct public hearings throughout Maine to highlight the issue of student hunger, provide advice regarding the responsibilities and supervision of hunger coordinators around Maine. The Commission is authorized to submit bills to the Legislature as they deem appropriate.

“If Maine kids are hungry, they cannot learn and grow as they should be able to,” said Sen. Vitelli. “Ending student hunger is not only the right thing to do for those kids, but for our state and its future. I’m excited to join the other members of the Commission in working towards this important goal.”

Sen. Vitelli recently introduced LD 454, “An Act To Encourage the Purchase of Local Produce for Public Schools,” which will provide school districts with $1 in funding for every $3 spent on produce or minimally processed foods purchased directly from a farmer, farmers’ cooperative, or local food hub in Maine. This bill follows on the footsteps of her bill LD 1584, “An Act To Expand the Local Foods Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement,” which became law last year. LD 1584 promotes the purchasing of local foods by Maine institutions.

The Commission to End Student Hunger meets at least twice a year.