To the Editor,
Providing free school lunch for all children has numerous benefits that extend beyond just addressing hunger. By ensuring that every child has access to a nutritious meal during the school day, we can improve their overall health and well-being. Proper nutrition is essential for children’s physical and cognitive development, as well as their ability to concentrate and learn in school.
Free school lunch can also help to reduce food insecurity among children, which is a pressing issue in many communities. Hunger can have long-term consequences on a child’s health, academic performance, and future opportunities. By offering free meals to all students, regardless of their family’s income, we can create a more equitable and inclusive learning environment where every child has an equal chance to succeed.
Additionally, providing free school lunch can help to combat stigma and shame associated with receiving assistance. When all children are eligible for the program, there is no distinction between those who can afford to pay and those who cannot. This can help to promote a sense of community and reduce the social barriers that can arise from economic disparities.
Overall, free school lunch for all children is a smart investment in our future. It promotes health, equity, and academic success, laying the foundation for a generation of healthier, more prosperous individuals.
By ensuring that every child has access to a nutritious meal at school, we can help to level the playing field and give all children the opportunity to thrive.
Suzy Thorby
Lanesboro, Minn.
Cody says
I have no problem helping the less fortunate until they can get on their own feet. I do have an issue with providing free lunch to those that have means. The phrase free lunch is false, just as Donnas comment pertaining to a free bus ride. Somebody paid for the bus, gas, maintenance and driver. All I’ve ever heard from leftist is the rich need to pay their fair share, but now you want to give them so called free lunch. Whomever coined the phrase “Hypocrisy knows no bounds” was right.
Donna halvorsen says
Suzy is right. Good nutrition is essential for kids to succeed in school and life and school lunches are an important part of that. End of issue.
HELD FOR MODERATION. HA HA HA HA
THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS DEAD BUT RIGHT WING RHETORIC LIVES FOREVER.
Donna Halvorsen says
My family didn’t have much money but we were fed and clothed, sent off to school with a good breakfast and we kids still benefited from school lunches. When our stomachs growled before lunchtime, a classmate and l would go to the cafeteria and the lunch ladies would give es each a half a peanut butter sandwich. They didn’t Yell, “somebody has to pay for that, you know.” Nobody complained about the school owned instruments that allowed any kid to play in the band, with the instruction of the wonderful Carl Johnson. Nobody complained about the free rides we got to athletic events nor the uniform worn by our team. I didn’t shout to the rafters, “
somebody has to pay for those, you know,” because there were no sports for girls. Yes, school sports are character building but not nearly so much as giving young kids a good start in school and life by making sure they have the nutrition to learn
Suzy gets it right.
Promote Cognitive and physical development…reduce food insecurity…avoid stigma…provide a sense of community. “Overall, free school for all children is a smart investment in our future.”
Making free school lunches a political football is shameful.
These children don’t have voices.
They don’t know that their aching bellies mean the world they live in cares more about the almighty dollar than about their futures.