As high school students, we spend seven hours a day at school constantly learning, taking tests and trying to understand difficult topics. Classes start early at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., and that does not include after school clubs, sports and volunteer work. Students contribute much to the school community through academics, athletics and leadership. Shouldn’t all of this justify access to free lunch as a necessity? Free school lunch should not be about income and eligibility; it should be about giving every student the fuel they need to succeed.
It currently costs $2.85 for students at Manheim Township high school to buy a lunch. That might not sound like much, but in the long run, it adds up. For students who are not able to pack lunches, buying a school lunch at this price every day of the school year costs a minimum of $513. In this current economy, $513 can go a long way. However, some students can qualify for a free or reduced lunch. For the average family, which is about four people in a household, a total salary of $59,478 or less is considered eligible for free or reduced meals. Another immediate qualification is if a household is receiving SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program), TANF (temporary assistance for needy families) benefits, or meets the definitions of homeless runaway or migrant. But what about the ones who cannot qualify? If you do not qualify for a free or reduced lunch, it does not necessarily mean you are rich or well-off. It simply means you do not qualify for the school’s income cutoff. Many important expenses like groceries and gas are made constantly, and even with a steady income, these prices added up can be a heavy burden. With the current economy’s state, the average cost for groceries is $504 per month and the average cost of gas is $130-$200 per month. If school lunches were free, the $85.50 minimum that students spend for a 30-day period of getting lunch daily could be used to pay for some of these other necessities.
A school lunch at MT includes the main entrée, two vegetables, two fruits and a milk. Extra snacks and drinks range from $0.50 to $3. If a student isn’t satisfied with the amount of lunch given on a specific day, their meal has the possibility of increasing to at least $3-$5. Not to mention there are also some days when a student will not like or cannot eat the selection given with fruits or vegetables.This gives way to the possibility that a student takes less food included in the lunch, and resorts to buying another snack, which would add to the total cost of a lunch. However, almost all of the students do not take advantage of the amount of food they can take that’s included in a lunch, and pay for what they aren’t choosing to take. All students should keep in mind what is included in the lunch they pay for…