Greetings, Classers!
[gif: Singer Adele saying, “Hello”]
So let’s talk about that. There’s been a lot of recent buzz and debate surrounding student lunch debt and the responsibility of schools to make sure that children are served nutritious and wholesome meals on a daily basis. The conversations are important because there’s no way there should be any concept of “school lunch debt” especially for children in a public school setting.
[gif: Lea Michele giving a ‘Uhm what?” face]
In addition, our last post spoke a bit about the impact of homelessness in our public school system, and w can clearly see a direct overlap between these two areas. Students coming from shelters, foster homes, and other types of underprivileged settings are in situations where they simply cannot afford clothes, food, books, and other necessary items for a rounded educational experience. The very prospect of school lunch debt- which often results in children being denied food and lunch shaming both seem like punishments on top of very arduous life conditions.
According to some reporting by NBCNews, ballooning school lunch debt is a long-standing problem across schools nationally. Not only is it a gross abuse to refuse a child the right to a meal, but it also has lasting mental effects as well. Imagine in one instance, a child had his lunch meal disposed of on his birthday because he had accrued $9 of debt and his free school lunch application was still pending. What kind of world do we live in that children are forced to endure these harsh, embarrassing, and unacceptable conditions?
To this degree, this post’s “Give Back” feature will center projects that help teachers keep their kid’s stomach fed as they also seek to feed their minds. Meals are essential parts of the day for every kind of person, and children are no different.
Teacher: Ms. G
Location: Voyages Prep- South Queens; Jamaica, NY
Objective: Help me give my students food and snacks to help fill their stomachs in order to provide a beneficial learning environment where they can become successful.
Summary: Last year my students were so appreciative of the snacks for our classroom received from a funded project on DonorsChoose.org. Many students come to school hungry due to a variety of socio-economic reasons. Those reasons and their hunger pains impede on their success as students. Last year with the food donation from supporters using DonorsChoose.org, my students were eager to come to school and I saw an increase in work productivity from the students. The students were motivated and energetic. They appreciated knowing that they could always grab a snack from the closet whenever they needed to. It helped to foster a second home for them. Please help me provide food and snacks again this year.
Project Deadline: Saturday, January 4, 2020.
Remaining Funds Needed: $623 [be the first to support!]
In addition, here are a few quick links to other fundraising projects that can help keep students fed while at school.
Meeting Basic Needs Helps Students Succeed Part 1
Help Improve Student Learning. Feed Their Braiins With Healthy Snacks!
Stay tuned for our next post which will feature projects aimed at getting much-needed books and supplies into classrooms.
[gif: Jason Lee saluting goodbye, saying, “I good you bid evening.” but then realizing his words are all jumbled.]
School lunch debt and lunch shaming is a problem that needs a national solution– nbcnews.com
Meeting Basic Needs Helps Students Succeed Part 1– DonorsChoose.org
Tools for Feeding– DonorsChoose.org
Snacks for Learning Part 2– DonorsChoose.org
Help Improve Student Learning. Feed Their Braiins With Healthy Snacks!– DonorsChoose.org