How to Help Reduce School Lunch Arrears
Earlier this month, one Rhode Island school district made headlines after gifting some of its students – those who have no budget left for school meals – sandwiches with cold tanning butter and jelly (along with milk and vegetables) instead of hot meals available to all other students. …
School lunch debt is a common reality nightmare, generating the practice of stigmatizing children or “shaming at lunch” them for not being able to afford the full cost of lunch, through practices such as detention or providing them with colds or colds. … raw alternatives to decent food.
Back in 2016, a third grader was stamped “I need money for lunch,” without even knowing what the application said, a practice that has become common in some school districts. As recently as May, a six-year-old girl literally experienced “shame” after being forced to return a hot lunch to her cafeteria due to her low credit balance. And yes, schools even hire debt collectors to get their money – one way or another.
“School lunch debt should not exist in the richest country in the history of the world,” Bernie Sanders recently tweeted , referring to the efforts of one nine-year-old to reduce lunch debt for his entire class.
While there is no data today on the total amount of debt for lunch in the country, CNN reported that 75% of US school districts were in debt for lunch during the 2016-2017 school year. In a School Meals Association survey of 1,500 school districts, the average average debt also rose from $ 2,000 to $ 2,500, which does not necessarily give a picture of the total; As of December 2018, K-12 students in DC school districts collectively had an estimated $ 500,000, according to The New Food Economy .
And, unfortunately, there will be no answer to this problem in the near future unless federal or state legislation is passed guaranteeing a universal school lunch. The existing program, known as the CEP, adopted by NYC school districts, has a number of working conditions that make it costly for all eligible schools to participate. (In states such as New Mexico and California, lunch shame policies have also been banned.) As the New Food Economy also mentions, labor and rising food costs account for at least some of the reasons some school districts cannot afford to accept students. needs.
Currently, the only real solution to this problem is a personal donation of money – at least until the law changes – but this is hardly a long-term answer.
Donate to local efforts and contact your representatives
If you would like to donate to a fund that will help reduce your school lunch arrears, you can donate to groups such as The School Lunch Fairy , which allows you to donate to the general fund to help any district in need, or identify a specific district that you need. ” want to help (although they may not support everyone).
If you are looking to make a donation to a specific school district, you will have no shortage of local GoFundMe efforts; you should contact the school district associated with GoFundMe to make sure it is properly vetted. You also have the option to contact the school district with lunch arrears and see if you can start your own funding efforts with their approval.
Finally, reach out to your local congressional representatives to raise the issue of school lunch arrears; it shouldn’t come as a surprise to them, but power comes in numbers (and massive phone calls). According to Civil Eats , Congress will also re-authorize baby food programs later this year, affecting school meals across the country. These programs were last re-authorized in 2010 and do not directly address current debt problems for lunch.
“During the re-authorization process for children’s meals, Congress has the opportunity to change some of the regulations that have increased student lunch arrears, ” writes Civil Eats’ Nadra Nittl. “This could change how schools are reimbursed for student meals, which districts are eligible, and the criteria that families must meet to receive free meals.”
So send a message to your representative (or call him!) And let him know that there is potential for change. Dinner shame shouldn’t exist, but it should be an important conversation as we get closer to 2020.