When I speak up for free and healthy school meals for all kids, it’s not politics for me. It’s personal.
I was that kid. The one who sometimes had to drink water to fill her stomach because lunch money wasn’t always there. My mom was a hard-working woman who did her very best, but life wasn’t easy. She earned just a little too much to qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet not enough to make sure food was always on the table.
I remember the shame of standing in line at school, realizing I couldn’t pay for my meal. I remember the embarrassment of being handed an alternate lunch or worse, going without. I remember being teased by classmates, trying to laugh it off while inside I felt invisible and unworthy. And I remember falling asleep in class because I was hungry and then getting in trouble for something that wasn’t my fault.
Hunger has a way of following you, even years later. You never forget what it felt like to be a hungry child trying to learn, trying to belong, trying not to be noticed for all the wrong reasons.
That’s why I’m fighting for LL and MM the statewide measures that would ensure every child in Colorado has access to free and healthy school meals. Because no child should ever have to choose between learning and eating.
This is not about handouts; it’s about dignity. It’s about removing barriers that make children feel different or “less than.” It’s about recognizing that working families – the ones juggling two jobs, the ones who fall just above the income line – are still struggling to keep up with rent, bills, and groceries.
When we talk about LL and MM, we’re talking about giving every child a fair chance. Hunger doesn’t just affect the stomach it affects focus, confidence, behavior, and the ability to thrive in school. And when a child can’t learn, it affects all of us as a community.
As someone who manages the Solid Rock Food Pantry here in Colorado Springs, I see those struggles every single day. Families who are working hard, doing everything they can yet still coming through our doors because food insecurity has become their new normal.
Through the Southeast Food Coalition, I work alongside community members and partners who are fighting for a more just and sustainable food system. Together, we’re not just handing out food we’re advocating for long-term solutions that ensure everyone has access to healthy, local, and affordable food options. But even with all our community efforts, we can’t fill every gap alone.
That’s why LL and MM matter. They’re part of building a system that works a system that meets families where they are and gives every child the nourishment they need to succeed.
We shouldn’t have to rely on teachers to stock granola bars in their desks or on pantries like ours to keep kids fed. School meals should be a guarantee, not a privilege.
When we feed children, we’re not just filling their plates we’re fueling their potential. We’re giving them a chance to show up, to focus, to dream.
So when you see LL and MM on your ballot, I hope you’ll think about the faces behind those letters the kids sitting in classrooms with empty stomachs, the parents quietly worrying about how to stretch one more meal, the teachers doing everything they can to keep their students fed and focused.
Voting ‘yes’ on LL and MM is not about politics. It’s about compassion. It’s about dignity. It’s about ensuring that no child in Colorado is left behind at the lunch table.
Because when our children thrive, our communities thrive too.
