A Letter to the Community about APS Cheese Sandwich Policy

Good morning.
This morning on page A3 of the Albuquerque Journal you will be able to read a Letter to the Community About the APS Cheese Sandwich Policy that has been in effect for our children and their families since January 5, 2009. Members of the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger and the greater community paid for the space for this Letter. We felt it important to place this Letter in order to accurately provide facts about the APS Policy and the impact it is having on our children and families. Given the facts that New Mexico is the second worst in the Nation in hunger, that 1 in 4 of our children do not know where they are getting their next meal and that USDA provides free nutritious lunch to our children (through reimbursing APS for these lunches) so that our children get at least one nutritious meal a day - it is imperative that APS stop the Cold Cheese Sandwich Lunch Policy immediately.
Something that has not been discussed in the media is that APS has stated they are paying for the cold cheese sandwiches out of their own budget. This is because USDA will not reimburse APS for a sub-standard lunch - which is what the cold cheese sandwich is considered by USDA.
Unfortunately, similar cheese sandwich lunch policies have been instituted in two other school districts in our State. It will be important to stop all of these policies that affect our children and their families through grass-roots community volunteers. If you would like to help, please go to: www.endnmhunger.org and send an email indicating your interest in helping.
Thank you very much.
Nancy