There is such a thing as a free lunch. And school districts across the country report that kids are eating many more of them as the flailing economy hits families hard.
In Tough Times More Students Feed On Free LunchesPittsburgh City Schools are no exception.
The National School Lunch Program fed more than 30 million children in the 2006-07 school year with federal and state funds. According to the School Nutrition Association, which represents workers who provide the meals, almost 80 percent of schools surveyed by the organization are reporting an increase in the number of free lunches served this year.
What's happening at home for western Pennsylvania kids matches the national trends discovered by the School Nutrition Association -- more parents are turning to school meals as a nutrition safety net for their children.
"Parents may have a hard time putting food on the table, trying to juggle their finances at home, with rent and their other expenses. That you're ensured children will get one, perhaps two with breakfast, nutritious, balanced meals," said Erik Peterson of the School Nutrition Association.
Over the past year, Pittsburgh schools have also started a program that allows whole schools within a district to qualify for free meals, without parents having to register each individual child. At least 35 schools, where more than 80 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-priced meals, have taken advantage of the option.
"It was the correct approach to take, with applications increasing at the end of last year. And it just led forward with that and explore it as an option," said School Food Service director Michael Peck.
The school district's latest figures show free school breakfasts are up by 13 percent, reduced- price school breakfasts are up by 69 percent and paid school breakfasts are up by 124 percent.
Peck said the school district works to make sure there is no stigma attached to taking advantage of the programs.
"By providing it universally free to all students that perception is removed and the barrier is removed," said Peck.
Federal funds don't cover the entire cost of these meals. In the Pittsburgh School district, they're working on efficiencies to make sure they narrow the cost between what the federal government provides and what they put on the table for the children.
Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Children from families with slightly higher incomes are eligible for reduced price meals, which were also being served at higher levels. The organization said an average of 425,000 more students are participating in the programs overall.
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