In an effort to decrease potential lead damage in children exposed to toxic water in Flint, Mich., the U.S. Department of Agriculture is pushing to expand the city’s nutrition programs.
Additional money will be funneled to various nutrition efforts, including providing EBT cards or food stamps for students who attend Flint Community Schools and qualify for free- and reduced-lunch programs, reports MLive.com.
Officials have also conversed with other agencies about adding produce stands throughout the city to increase access to fresh produce, and helping schools in the district participate in the Community Eligibility Provision, which provides healthy meals to students in economically depressed areas.
“The USDA has said, ‘Look, this is such a critical situation right now; we need to do this ... so children and families have more access to fruits and vegetables,’” Dr. Katie Wilson, USDA deputy under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, told the website.
Read the full story at MLive.com.