We spent about the same amount daily on quality KN-94s this year as we used to on school lunches. It was a nice change. I used to assume that people who didn't want universal free lunch just didn't have empathy, but now I assume they just like hurting kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t there an income level for a free lunch?

Yes, it’s been that way for ages. But everyone (all school age kids), regardless of income, got free lunch during the pandemic.

When I taught, some kids that could’ve qualified for FRL didn’t take advantage of the program. Sometimes it was language but often it was pride. So the kids just wouldn’t eat. It was sad. I was so glad when the free lunch for all program started.

Anonymous wrote:Why was the free lunch program started? Was it due to the pandemic? If you didn’t lose a job/income during the pandemic, why were you given free lunch?

There has been a push to make it free all the time outside of the pandemic. Why do rich people "need" lunch? Well the more barriers you put in place for the poor people, the less the poor kids actually GET to eat at school. There is solid research that when everyone is treated the same about school food (no paperwork, no special program etc) the needy kids get more food. Hungry kids don't learn well.

So one way to look at it is "why do rich people need free lunch?" and the answer is "it removes free lunch stigma and GREATLY help the kids who can't afford it".

I am furious at Biden for not being able to keep this. And the child tax credit. Poor kids just continue to get dumped on.

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t there an income level for a free lunch?

Yes, it’s been that way for ages. But everyone (all school age kids), regardless of income, got free lunch during the pandemic.

Isn’t there an income level for a free lunch?

If you're upset tell Congress. Biden signed a spending bill extending the lunch program for another year in March and Republicans refused it. It's going to hurt a lot of low income people.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-06-17/congress-shouldn-t-take-away-us-students-free-lunch

Anonymous wrote:Why was the free lunch program started? Was it due to the pandemic? If you didn’t lose a job/income during the pandemic, why were you given free lunch?

President Trump singed a bill back in March 2020 doing COVID, it was free for every kid in grades K-12 in the US.

that is fine with us, we can afford it but we saved about $900 dollars not buying breakfast or lunch for our 8th grader. ball park $5 per lunch and breakfast *180=$900, so if we had 2 kids attend school we would've spend $1800 dollars, its a shame they are no longer doing this program, I know if you're really poor you can free lunch, but still the middle class needs help too. our HHI is for 2021 was $103,212. we have 1 DC still in school the others are alll grown.

Then why are you whining?

Why was the free lunch program started? Was it due to the pandemic? If you didn’t lose a job/income during the pandemic, why were you given free lunch?

Reprehensible.

Call your representative. I saw a few things in the talks, who knows where it lands though. There are so many middle class people that are getting the tight squeeze between this ending and inflation.

Anonymous wrote:I hope the quality improves this fall.

Where?
we in PW we have great lunches

I hope the quality improves this fall.

Middle/UM Class always gets screwed.

I would actually prefer there to be a focus on healthy school breakfast/lunch options. I would pay more if they could offer some healthy whole food or plant based options.

that is fine with us, we can afford it but we saved about $900 dollars not buying breakfast or lunch for our 8th grader. ball park $5 per lunch and breakfast *180=$900, so if we had 2 kids attend school we would've spend $1800 dollars, its a shame they are no longer doing this program, I know if you're really poor you can free lunch, but still the middle class needs help too. our HHI is for 2021 was $103,212. we have 1 DC still in school the others are alll grown.