Free school meals for students to end
news@greenecountymessenger.com
Public schools have provided free lunches and breakfasts to students during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that will end on June 30.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture implemented free meals nationwide in March 2020 to help with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Congress recently decided not to renew funding for the program, meaning that families will have to again pay for school meals with the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
The past two years of free healthy meals has been a help for families, especially during school closures, when school districts shifted to grab-and-go meals that families could pick up, and amid ongoing food chain and food supply issues, and record inflation.
For families who relied on the school lunches to provide at least one daily nutritious meal 无毛视频� a significant factor in reducing food insecurity 无毛视频� the end of the program is cause for concern.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 been very beneficial for a school district like us that is socioeconomically-challenged,无毛视频� said Dr. Keith Hartbauer, Superintendent of Brownsville Area School District. 无毛视频淚t gives kids an opportunity, even in the summer, to have a solid meal at least once a day. If a child无毛视频檚 basic needs aren无毛视频檛 being met, like food and shelter, how can we expect them to excel in any other area? The program has been a godsend for us.无毛视频�
Burgettstown Area School District Superintendent Stephen Puskar also said he无毛视频檇 like to see the program extended.
无毛视频淭he lingering effects of the pandemic on the economy, as well as other factors, have really put a strain on households. The universal free meal program certainly benefitted our families,无毛视频� said Puskar, adding that the school district saw an increase in participation in both breakfast and lunch programs as a result of the universal free meal program.
California and Maine passed legislation that will enable this states to continue to provide universal school meals after the federal waiver ends.
At the federal level, a bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill, 无毛视频淪upport Kids Not Red Tape,无毛视频� to provide free meals during the summers of 2022 and 2023, and the 2022-23 school year.
Jefferson-Morgan School District Superintendent Brandon Robinson said school districts 无毛视频渨ould love to see the free meals waiver not only extended for the 2022-2023 school year, but for all students moving forward to receive a free breakfast and lunch for the future of their public education.无毛视频�
In the Uniontown Area School District, free school lunches will be provided for the 2022-23 school year because the school district qualifies under the National School Lunch Program无毛视频檚 Community Eligibility Provision for school districts in low-income areas.
Local school districts want parents to know that they can soon start to fill out the applications necessary to see if their student or students qualify for federal free or reduced lunches.
Qualifications for federal free and reduced meals are based on household size and either annual, monthly or weekly family income.
Applications for free and reduced meals will be available on all area school districts无毛视频� websites beginning July 1.
But the task of collecting and verifying families无毛视频� qualification for free or reduced-price meals at the beginning of every academic year isn无毛视频檛 easy, and families can lose track of applications or feel too ashamed to fill them out.
无毛视频淭he normal free and reduced program certainly assists families on a tight budget. However, that system is not perfect in that it relies, in part, on families registering,无毛视频� said Puskar.
He added, 无毛视频淲hile certainly the aim of the universal free meals was to ensure students were fed, a byproduct was certainly alleviating any stigma that may have existed.无毛视频�
The program无毛视频檚 expiration date looms, but Robinson hopes it is renewed.
Among the benefits, he said, 无毛视频渁re that all students and families do not have to stress over paying for meals while their child is in school.无毛视频�
无毛视频淲e have always had a free and reduced program, but many families that do not qualify for this can still use the help,无毛视频� said Robinson. 无毛视频淲ith the rising costs of everything, I believe a free meals program is more essential than ever.无毛视频�