Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 7, 2023 LOBBY DAY | FROM PAGE 4 ger-Free Campus coalition for their advocacy.” “Today’s students are responding to historic economic pressures whether it be escalating costs of college, the burden of student debt, the escalating costs associated with textbooks, housing and transportation, and in many cases, childcare,” said Representative Domb. “In this puzzle and trade-offs surrounding their economic insecurity, something has to give, and too often it is food. We know that food insecurity on campus exists, and it undermines students’ academic success, completion, and retention. Hungry students can’t learn and can’t succeed, and that includes students in college. The Hunger Free Campus legislation will help deliver the interventions that work to reduce college student food insecurity and support our students.” “I am proud to cosponsor the MA Hunger-Free Campus Initiative bill and advocate for funding in the FY24 state budget to ensure no student goes hungry at any public college in our state,” said Senator DiDomenico, who is Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “We spend a lot of money to ensure our state universities have talented professors and world class resources, but this money is wasted when students are hungry, can’t concentrate in class and can’t afford to feed themselves. I look forward to working with Senator Lovely, Representative Vargas, Representative Domb, and the MA Hunger Free Campus Coalition to pass this critical piece of legislation.” Following the speaking program, student representatives met with legislators for lobby meetings around the coalition’s priorities and advancing solutions for college hunger. “The students who are spending their time today to improve the quality of life for all students are the very ones that will continue to be on the forefront of improving our communities through organizing, advocacy and service,” said MASSPIRG Legislative Director Dierdre Cummings. “No student should ever have to go hungry,” said MASSPIRG’s Chapter Chair at UMass Lowell, Sean Simonini. “How can we be expected to do our best work if our biggest worry is where our next meal is going to come from? The thought that over 1-in-3 college students - including my classmates - have faced food or housing insecurity is more than enough reason for our legislature to pass the Hunger Free Campus Act now.” Several HFCC members were also present at the State House event. This state-wide coalition was formed in 2019 and today includes over 40 schools, civic agencies and hunger-relief organizations across Massachusetts. “In a commonwealth that prides itself on its worldclass higher education, that invests millions of dollars in public education every year, we’ve fallen behind in making sure that our students don’t go hungry,” said The Greater Boston Food Bank Policy Manager Kate Adams. “We’re encouraged that Governor Healey has made significant commitments to expand access and remove barriers to higher education, but we can’t miss the essential role that food plays in the retention, achievement, and graduation of students.” About the Massachusetts LOBBY DAY | SEE PAGE 24
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