Date: 5/15/2008 7:40:00 AM
From Authorid: 10657
I am not sure if, you are being sarcastic or not but, I will answer lol. One they usually provide the breakfast and lunch because, some parents work during that time and leave thier children home to fend for themselves. It's not everywhere the service is usually provided in innercity areas. It also, gives the children recieving the services a chance to communicate with an adult if, something is bothering them and it keeps them out of the streets for a little bit of time as well as allowing to recieve a healthy breakfast and lunch that they may not ordinarily recieve. I am assuming that you weren't putting us all into the food stamp category since, gas is at an all time high, jobs are becoming scarce, and more and more people are getting turned down for the help that they could use but, are being told no.  |
Date: 5/15/2008 7:46:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
Actually, I am putting quite a few people into a certain category. Since when is it the governments responsibility to feed everyone, regardless of income? I don't think the lunch ladies are trained to counsel children on what problems they may or not be having during the summer. We have two low income elementary schools and one low income middle school in our school district, I could see this service being provided in those area's, but the other schools listed are in very nice area's.  |
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Date: 5/15/2008 7:49:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
One year they tried it at our elementary school, but the attendance was so low it wasn't worth it I guess. The strangest thing is the two really low income schools in our district isn't even on the list! |
Date: 5/15/2008 7:54:00 AM
From Authorid: 56359
And, along with supper, they should be giving out snacks as well. They need to think about a well balanced diet here. And how much money will this cost people to drive to these schools and allow their children to pick up this food. I'm thinking there should be a program to help parents get their children to the food. Give them gas money for the summer, along with buses for the kids whose parents drank that pint of vodka. And then, are these healthy meals??? If not the government will have to set up a fitness program for the summer too. I'm sure that's been done. Maybe everyone's paycheck should go into one HUGE account, and the government should give out the money as they see fit. We're not smart enough to know how to spend our money according to some. What about that?  |
Date: 5/15/2008 7:54:00 AM
From Authorid: 10245
nope... in fact, I think our regular lunch program is a "for profit" endeavor.  |
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Date: 5/15/2008 7:58:00 AM
From Authorid: 10657
Then, that is an abuse of the system is not meant for those that can provide for thier children it is meant for those of us that might not be able to. For example, my daughter has CP so, she needs constant care. When, we moved to another state I was told her condition no longer qualifies her for services that had been provided for before. She was recieving her pull ups, pediasure, and wipes for little cost to me. Now, I am footing that bill which, is well over the amount of money I bring in, while school is in session it allows me not to worry about breakfast and lunch except, on weekends and on non school days with extra food for the days that she may not go because, of illness. I am now a single mother of two that has been told I don't qualify for medical or food stamps for my children. That is whom, the program is meant for those of us that may not be able to provide for our children. My children aren't starving but, had I not learned early how to budget on little income I could see myself needing to use the program. |
Date: 5/15/2008 8:02:00 AM
From Authorid: 7574
No, I've never heard of that before.  |
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Date: 5/15/2008 8:05:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
LOL ScreenWriter, true about the gas it will cost to get the children to the school. As for snacks, I read recently that in certain states a snack is provided. I've noticed with my youngest daughter who is in the 4th grade they are allowed to have snack time, but they have to bring their own snack. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the government takes that over in every state as well. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 8:06:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
What is extra handy about this program is that 18 year olds can bring their children in for breakfast and lunch. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 8:07:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
Mercury, I don't think it could be for profit if it is ran by a public school. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 8:10:00 AM
From Authorid: 10245
$4 per day for an elementary school meal. Happy meals are cheaper. I don't know that it is profitable... seems like it should be, though. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 8:11:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
Angi, the flyer says, "A summer meal Program available free to all children ages 1-18 (proof of age may be required)". That's the part that gets me, anyone can have it for free. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 8:13:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
Mercury, that does seem very high. I think my daughters lunch is 2.00 and 1.50 for breakfast, but most days I pack her lunch since she hates the school lunches. |
Date: 5/15/2008 8:20:00 AM
From Authorid: 15157
I'm not sure...thats pretty cool for that program to offer regardless of income!  |
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Date: 5/15/2008 8:22:00 AM
From Authorid: 10245
we also have automated lunch accounts that get severely abused. I think 4th graders are too young to make their own dietary choices, myself... but they're allowed to do that, too (and so are the 1st graders). Lunch was 2.75/day at the beginning of the year. I know I can feel them a sack lunch cheaper, but we often run out of time in the mornings to prepare properly, and I haven't gotten the hang of doing it at night. It costs about $250 a month to feel all 3 of them one meal a day at school... which is almost as much as it costs me to feed them 2 GOOD MEALS a day at home. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 8:31:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
Mercury, our school has the kids accounts set up on line so you can see what they are buying and you can put money in their account. I always put a certain amount of money in Madison's account for days I don't pack her lunch and she does eat breakfast sometimes. I caught her on several occasions buying ice cream even when I had sent a dessert in her lunch! It's called PAMS and any school can use the system. You ought to have your school check into it so you can keep track of what your kids buy. |
Date: 5/15/2008 8:56:00 AM
From Authorid: 64365
Kelly, you are behind the times...these days foodstamps go for the stuff that goes in that special pipe...I can't tell you how many times I have been cornered at ATM machines by people wanting to sell me their food stamps  |
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Date: 5/15/2008 9:06:00 AM
From Authorid: 10245
oh we have that... I just can't get into the system for some reason. I've been trying for 2 years! |
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Date: 5/15/2008 9:08:00 AM
From Authorid: 10657
Mercury we have that too and what I had to do was get an account set up from the office administration itself. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 9:08:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
Holy cow!! The federal government invests more than $16 billion annually in child nutrition programs under the Child Nutrition Act which includes WIC, breakfast and lunch programs. There are 71 million children under the age of 18 in the united states according to the 2000 census. You figure a small portion of those live in true poverty, another portion live in households that need some help, the rest are working class, middle and high income. That is a lot of money! |
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Date: 5/15/2008 9:11:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
Have you really Nani. I've never actually had that happen to me, but I've heard people do it. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 9:17:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 15228
Under that child nutrition, act day cares that show 25 percent of the children they care for come from low income families get free snacks AND breakfast & lunch from the government. Hopefully they deduct that from the price they charge. |
Date: 5/15/2008 9:24:00 AM
From Authorid: 56293
They have a program here for people with lower incomes. Depending on your income you could receive reduced or a free lunch. It was something you had to apply for.  |
Date: 5/15/2008 9:50:00 AM
From Authorid: 62095
I think it is a great thing to have for children. I watched this thing on the news and was shocked when they said in my town the schools have to make so much more food on mondays because some kids would come to school from the weekend starving. So I think that for the kids that don't get to eat, for whatever reason, the summer program is great for this. I guess there are some really evil horrible parents out there.  |
Date: 5/15/2008 9:55:00 AM
From Authorid: 28848
Kelly its not the kids fault that their parents do things like that. A lot of kids would go hungry if this service wasnt provided. I can surely think of worse things that the government does and has done.  |
Date: 5/15/2008 10:32:00 AM
From Authorid: 4887
We have this here too. But, I think that they do only breakfast and lunch, because schools are normally not open during dinner....??? :)  |
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Date: 5/15/2008 10:42:00 AM ( Admin )
You can bet that those lunches cost $25 bucks each or some increadable amount and the Gov pays the companies that delivers it. Someone is making a lot of money from this I'm sure. |
Date: 5/15/2008 12:38:00 PM
From Authorid: 63962
I guess they assume that the two meals a day is enough to hold them until the next day. LOL At least they're giving them THAT much! There's lots of places that don't have programs like this!  |
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Date: 5/15/2008 12:39:00 PM
From Authorid: 63962
To clarify, Kelly is talking about over the *summer* when school is out, that they are doing this. :) |
Date: 5/15/2008 1:24:00 PM
From Authorid: 64566
I don't know. I never have been greedy and stingy enough to find out. I hope they do for those that NEED it only.  |
Date: 5/15/2008 2:29:00 PM
From Authorid: 35720
Soon parents won't have to do ANYTHING or pay so much as a dime to raise their children. Isn't that the point of having children? To provide and care for another person? It's understandable for lower income families, but why extend this offer to those who can already afford it?  |
Date: 5/15/2008 4:25:00 PM
From Authorid: 62579
No, we do not have a program like that here. You are right about people buying cigarettes and such with food stamps. It is a shame and it makes me upset to hear about people doing that. On the other hand I don't see what is so funny about feeding children dinner. Many people are working class and still have trouble paying for groceries and do not get food stamps. The high prices of everything is making it harder for the working class. No one is better than anyone else on this earth regardless of status or income. Some may think they are but they put their clothes on just the same as everyone else. In the end we are all human. I am sure many children and families are grateful for the meals, and I am glad to hear they have a program for that. Don't forget the single mothers and grandparents who may need the extra help for the kids.  |
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Date: 5/15/2008 4:35:00 PM
From Authorid: 62579
No, we do not have a program like that here. You are right about people buying cigarettes and such with food stamps. It is a shame and it makes me upset to hear about people doing that. On the other hand I don't see what is so funny about feeding children dinner. Many people are working class and still have trouble paying for groceries and do not get food stamps. The high prices of everything is making it harder for the working class. No one is better than anyone else on this earth regardless of status or income. Some may think they are but they put their clothes on just the same as everyone else. In the end we are all human. I am sure many children and families are grateful for the meals, and I am glad to hear they have a program for that. Don't forget the single mothers and grandparents who may need the extra help for the kids. |
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Date: 5/15/2008 4:36:00 PM
From Authorid: 62579
Sorry about the double post |
