LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky lawmakers want to put locally-grown, fresh food into low-income schools across the state.
Democrats and republicans are working together to try and give Kentucky schools money to purchase food from local farmers. The goal is to fuel low-income students with healthy food.
"It's something that has a lot of support, and is bringing together a coalition that we don't always see come together," Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said.
House Bill 189 and Senate Bill 40 aim to help kids in poverty.
"Providing kids in need with food seems like such a baseline important thing that we could be doing," Armstrong said.
Armstrong filed the senate bill.
"We know for a lot of kids when you're living in poverty, that free breakfast that free lunch, that might be the only nutritious meal that you're getting in a day. It really makes a difference in kids lives," Armstrong said.
If passed, the proposed legislation would give eligible school districts, 33 cents for every meal purchased, if they create a plan to buy and use some meal products from Kentucky farmers.
It would also help provide more free breakfasts and lunches to low-income students.
"I always talk about this bill as a win win win, because not only are we feeding more kids, we're doing it by supporting our local farmers," Armstrong, said.
Amanda Sobiech, who's a Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) teacher, thinks a move like this would serve areas "where there's less access to fresh produce."
"I think availability is a huge roadblock, especially when you talk about low income areas of this city. Grocery stores closing down all over the place and not having access to the things that they might want but are unable to purchase because it's not available," Sobiech, said. "If we can get that local food on the plates of those kids, that's going to teach them at a very young age that eating locally, eating sustainably, having a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet, is a healthy way to live."
Teresa Adamchik has a daughter in the Oldham County School District. She said the healthier the student, the better.
"It's local. It's right here. We're supporting jobs and farmers and the local economy. So, why would we ship that out to another place," Teresa Adamchik said.
Adamchik hopes to one day see less plastics, like Styrofoam containers and plastic utensils, used in the cafeteria, too.
Armstrong said both bills have bi-partisan support.
"Everyone is for supporting our local farmers. People see how this bill makes sense for Kentucky," Armstrong said.
Kentucky State Representative Chad Aull filed the companion bill in the house. Armstrong told WDRB she feels positive about the bill's chances of success.
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