Letter: Parents should enroll students in school lunch program
With the start of a new school year fast approaching, I would like to encourage all parents to fill out the free and reduced school lunch form as they enroll their students. This program helps parents stretch their food budget by providing tasty, nutritious meals for our community’s kids.
Statistics show that students who eat a healthy breakfast or lunch learn better, and retain more of what they’re taught. In today’s economy, a school breakfast or lunch is the best value around, and provides a healthy, well-balanced alternative to fast food or high-calorie snacks.
Recent updates to eligibility requirements will allow many more families to qualify for this benefit. For example, a family of four qualifies with an income of $44,955 or less per year; a family of five qualifies with an income of $52,614 or less; and so on. High school students who qualify may also receive discounts on college application fees, textbooks and more.
Free and reduced lunch forms will be sent home with all students to be returned the first week of school, or you can contact any of the school secretaries for more information.
Kimm D. Minkler, Kennewick
This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 3:27 AM with the headline "Letter: Parents should enroll students in school lunch program."