Together for Free School Meals Hosts Signature-Gathering Pop-Ups

The events also served as ways for organizers to let locals know how to spread copies of the petition if they were so interested.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Following the North Dakota Senate’s rejection of a bill in January that would have provided free school meals to students in the state, a coalition supporting the cause is redoubling their efforts.

Together for Free School Meals held two pop-up signature gathering and petition training events this Saturday, one in Jamestown and one in Fargo.

The Fargo event was held at Vampire Penguin and focused on garnering as many signatures as possible, as well as informing interested citizens on how to spread their own copies of the petition.

Members of the coalition say that not only would free school meals be beneficial for the students themselves, but the money their families would save would be a boost to local economies.

“We do know that the majority of people want kids to have meals for free,” said Amy Jacobson, “and, on top of that, that’s about a thousand dollars per year per child that a family has back in their pocket to pay for basic needs, pay for rising housing costs, to support the economy of their community as well.”

The petition needs a minimum of 32,000 signatures in order for a measure to be placed on the November ballot.