Author: Matthew Tift
Minnesota offers “universal” Free School Meals—but those free meals are hardly universal. They exclude kids who follow a plant-based diet as well as those whose religions have very specific considerations for how meat is handled. An opt-in plant-based option (already implemented in Illinois!) would make these lunches truly available to everyone. MUUSJA and Genevieve Vavreck, a UU working with MN Plant-Based Kids, invites us to send letters of advocacy to our MN House and Senate representatives. Her letter template (which you can copy and personalize) draws on UU values. It’s an easy, quick, and effective way to put your faith in action! Find your representative and their contact info right here.
Lake Fellowship members will be voting on Sunday (January 12, 2025) to decide if we want to add our Fellowship to this letter, which Genevieve Vavreck will print and include in a packet that will be hand delivered to legislators. If you are a member but are unable to attend on Sunday and would like to vote, please email your vote ("yes" or "no") to info@lakefellowship.org before Sunday. We need to let her know by the end of day on Sunday.
In case you were wondering, 501(c)(3) organizations are required to focus their resources on educational, religious, and/or other charitable activities. They are strictly prohibited from engaging in political campaigning or supporting/opposing candidates for public office. However, 501(c)(3) organizations are allowed to engage in limited lobbying activities—including advocacy on legislative matters—provided those activities do not constitute a substantial part of their overall activities. This means that our involvement in advocating for the plant-based school meal option is appropriate as it is nonpartisan and focused on policy, not political campaigning.