Reply to Do wrap-around resources, 3 free meals, after-school activities, etc. move the needle?

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Reply to "Do wrap-around resources, 3 free meals, after-school activities, etc. move the needle?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is anecdotal, but I was a hungry kid who got free lunch. It took my mom a while to get her act together to submit the paperwork necessary for me to get the free lunch, so prior to that I would talk my friends into letting me use a “punch” on their meal card, and I’m also sad to admit that on days I couldn’t figure out where to get food, I would steal it when the lunch lady turned her back. I still feel really bad about that, but it is what it is- hungry kids make bad decisions, and I didn’t realize that if I had just asked for help, I might have gotten it.

Now I have a masters degree and a fancy job and a HHI of around $400k. I think free lunch and breakfast helped me because it eliminated the constant scheming about how to get food. I could go to school, focus on academics, and get a lunch like a normal kid. I had to go in a bit early for the breakfast and getting it labeled me, to my embarrassment, as a kid in poverty because only the poorest qualified for free breakfast. But I am so grateful to all who support free lunch because I’m not sure where I would be without it. 
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Thank you for sharing your story.  You have proven that these services can help and you make a very valid point. 
My child gets to go to school and focus on school, he doesn't have to worry about where his next meal is coming from.  He doesn't have to worry about whether he will be cold at recess or going home b/c he doesn't have weather appropriate clothing.
He doesn't have to worry about if there will be heat at home.  He doesn't have to worry about going to bed hungry.

These are very adult issues and kids shouldn't have to worry about them.

For those who are against providing these services in school, do you think they the hallways will be paved with gold once if the schools stop feeding kids?
I just don't understand how anyone could see this as a waste of resources.

As for after school activities, keeping kids engaged is a great way to help at risk kids.  Giving them somewhere to be and something to learn outside of school limits the time they could be engage is less than ideal activities and helps give them a sense of community.

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