Do we want to feed the kids or not

 Maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch?

 

Eight states in our union have promised every student a free lunch.   No paperwork, no forms, no how much money does your family have.   Nope, everyone who comes to school gets a free lunch- or at least free to the student.

Governor Walz of Minnesota said that while other states were banning books, his state was banishing hunger.

The Federal meal program for k-12 students was created to provide food to children from low-income families while at school.   The program is funded through the US Department of Agriculture.   While originally created as a kind of stop-gap for hungry kids, it has become in many ways an entitlement program.

As with all things there are three sides to every story.

The US House of Representatives has passed a budget package that would eliminate the community eligibility provision.  This is a policy that allows entire school districts, groups of schools or a single school to provide all students with meals regardless of the income of any single child.  Project 2025 and the US House of Representatives argue that the program should return to its original intent and only serve low-income kids.

California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico and Vermont all join Minnesota in providing free lunch to all.  Under the typical meal system, some students pay the full price, others pay a reduced price and still others get a free lunch.  Universal free lunch dramatically reduces the paperwork and each child can feel good about him or herself. No more stigma for some kids if they want to eat.    Under the typical system, some kids would rather go hungry than have to identify as poor enough for a free lunch.   As Scrooge would say, “if they would rather go hungry then let them”.   A bill sponsored in both houses of Congress calling for free breakfast and lunch has gained no traction among Republicans.

For many children, school lunches (and breakfast in some cases) provide the major food source for a child in a day.    Some schools send home weekend bags too.

These lunches aren’t free.   Someone is footing the bill.   So, the questions are should all kids eat, should some kids eat, and who should be paying for the groceries, because there really isn’t a free lunch.