Reply #30: I'm completely STUNNED. I cannot believe some of the responses to this issue I have read.

[Tatiana]

How many of you work in schools? (I do.)

How many of you work with kids who come from low-income, poverty-stricken families? (I do.)

One of the things we've done is to make sure EVERY family fills out a free/reduced lunch form, unless they absolutely know they won't qualify. But that still isn't enough. Some people who are struggling to make ends meet are denied due to income. I remember when I was a single parent and my child first started attending school. I filled out the form and was denied due to income. I probably made $25,000 (if that). $40-$50 a month doesn't seem like a lot, but when you're struggling with rising energy costs (heating bills, gas to get to work, etc.), it can be an issue. What I have found with some of the families at my school is that they are playing a juggling act. Unable to pay all the bills in full every month, so the $50 for the child's lunch account goes to pay the water bill. The kid racks up charges until the parent(s) can put off another bill in order to pay on the child's lunch account.

Yes, paying the lunch bill is a parental problem. However, what's more important, in my opinion, is the effect on the child. For many of these children, the school lunch may be the only meal they eat until dinner, if they eat dinner. I saw a student last month sitting in the hallway during her lunch period. I asked her why she had her head down and if she was feeling OK. She said she was light-headed and she was hungry. I told her to go to the cafeteria (as it was her lunch period) and get something to eat. There was a huge pause, as if she was embarrassed, but then she blurted out that she couldn't get lunch because she hadn't paid off her charges. She said her mom couldn't pay it this month. Because these are high school kids, they don't even get a cheese sandwich. They don't get anything until their charges are paid. I just bought a lunch for myself and gave it to her.

I spoke with the mom during parent/teacher conferences (their phone was disconnected). Turns out mom is laid off and waiting on her unemployment. She had originally been denied for free/reduced lunch, but I told her to reapply as her status had changed. I think the family got approved. Sometimes just reminding families to fill out the form if there is any change in their circumstances works.

If it's parents who have the money and simply refuse to pay, that's one thing. They need to handle their business and take care of the responsibilities they have the means to take care of. But often we are dealing with families who bottom line are poor. I cannot support a policy that penalizes students by leaving them hungry simply because their parents are poor.