Cincy Reporter

August 1, 2023 marked the anniversary of the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast for School Children Program, which recognized the importance of food security in the lives of children. According to Feeding America, over nine million children faced food insecurity in 2021, and 22% of those children were Black.

“The Black Panther Party recognized that hunger negatively impacts a child’s education and basic functionality,” said Autumn Pitney, Manager of Guest Experiences at the Freedom Center.

The Free Breakfast for Schoolchildren Program provided free, hot, and nutritionally balanced meals to any child who attended the program. Started in the mid-1960s, the program eventually grew to serve over 20,000 children by the end of its first year.

The Black Panther Party also started the Free Food Program, which provided a week’s worth of nutritious, fresh foods to those requesting assistance. The program worked with local stores to secure food donations and was so successful that by 1969 the U.S. National Lunch Program acknowledged that the Panthers were feeding more low-income children than they were.

Today, there are still many local food aid programs in the United States, such as food banks and local churches. Pitney suggests donating to these organizations or volunteering to cook and distribute food. “It’s key that we all work together to fight food insecurity," she said.

For more information on the Free Breakfast for School Children Program, visit Solid Ground’s website. To learn more about food insecurity in the United States, visit Feeding America’s website.