Ah the memories of school lunch. Back in the day, waaaaay back in the day, the school lunch ladies were my heroes. Inez Cheeney, Grace Grosch, Coleen Bose, Holly Smothers, and I’m sure some others, made these amazing to me meals: grilled cheese with tomato soup and HOMEMADE cinnamon rolls, chili, and hamburgers with homemade buns were just a few of the wonderful meals we had.
Nowadays, school lunch has given way to school meals as breakfast is now usually offered along with lunch, and in some schools weekend backpack meals and summer meals. For many kids, school meals fill a gap created for a variety of reasons beyond their control. For many schools the deficits in their food distribution departments grow as they work to fuel a learning environment. There are many different models including some that don’t shame or single out kids whose meal accounts are in deficit.
Research shows that hungry kids aren’t learning. They have difficulty focusing, are not receiving the nutrients necessary for cognitive development, and if they are anything like me, “hanger” is not helping their social skills either.
Many school districts have options for community members to assist. Our local school district has a place on their website to donate. The director of food service in our district told me that people can donate to the general district fund for use where needed most, can donate to their neighborhood school, or can, like some grandparents do, donate for a specific child although the district will not reveal the meal account status of any child. The director also told me that they had stopped the practice of “cheese sandwich and milk” meals for kids whose accounts are in deficit.
It’s easy to struggle with the assumption or notion that at least some of these parents are just being irresponsible and not taking care of their child. That may be true. But I don’t know any one person’s status AND quite frankly, I’m don’t view this as helping the parent but rather supporting a child.
What’s going on in your district this year?
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” – Matthew 25:34-40
Just Sayin' 