More Children Getting Free Supper Courtesy of Uncle Sam

More Children Getting Free Supper Courtesy of Uncle Sam

Brattleboro, Vt. (AP) - While the other preschoolers were warming up to the vegetable pesto lasagna, 3-year-old Avery Bennett dove in with no hesitation.

"Can I have some more lasagna?" Bennett said from her booster seat. "I love it."

She moved on to her seconds, and the other kids at the evening care program in Brattleboro were also chomping down the dish made of spinach, peppers, carrots, tomato, fresh basil and cheese.

More low-income school kids could soon have access to free nutritious dinners like the lasagna that Avery loved. A U.S. Department of Agriculture program in Vermont, 12 other states and the District of Columbia provides reimbursements for the suppers, served at after-school programs for at-risk kids in communities where at least 50 percent of households fall below the poverty level.

CNS News

WOW... LOOK!!!

We are finally doing something right for a change..

This is just a little good news for all of those that are interested...

With all of the trouble and turmoil currently happening in the nation, it is so refreshing to see the country doing something for the poor, unfortunate children that are not to blame for their lot in life..

Semper

reply to post by semperfortis


Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are doing something right for a change.

The goodness finally shows through.

reply to post by semperfortis
A 'feel good' story at last! I opened the thread expecting an OP criticising Govt for feeding poor kids and getting flagged for it

Snf for taking ATS in a new direction

This is great, no child should go hungry.

It's sad, but I honestly came into this thread expecting to see people ranting about how they shouldn't have to pay for other people's children etc etc

Ahhh, the 21st century, where you can steal billions and retire early but we're still working on making sure our children have food

reply to post by Shadowflux


That's what I was expecting when I read the thread title, then saw Semper was the poster and figured not. I sure as hell don't mind my taxes going to feed hungry kids. We should be judged as a society by how we treat the weakest members. Great post, cheered me up.

reply to post by Raustin


I am actually always ranting about how much I pay in taxes, but like you stated so well...

I really don't mind at all my taxes going for this...



Semper

reply to post by semperfortis


I have to say that when I read the title, I thought for sure this was gonna be another "Stop spending our money" thread, and thought, "Oh no, not you too Semper!"... I'm very happy to be proven soooooo wrong! S & F! It's nice to see a positive thread around here! The negative nellys have been keeping me over on BTS for some time now!

OK, back to the Mutterbox!!!

Originally posted by Kandinsky
reply to post by semperfortis

 

A 'feel good' story at last! I opened the thread expecting an OP criticising Govt for feeding poor kids and getting flagged for it

Snf for taking ATS in a new direction

I was too..

I guess we are conditioned for the doom and negativity here on ATS. I always prefer these stories, though they are few and far between..

Also,

S&F for you OP. Great post.

Yet I am sure that there are members that will be all "oh noz, communist preschooling hippies!"

reply to post by semperfortis


...Still not fair middle class families children don't get the same free food.. In all likelihood most are so strapped for cash they can only give their kids a few bucks for lunch, which turns into enough for cookies and chips. At least, that's how it was when I was in school. We all hated the children packing their trays with food and showing their cards to cover the cost.. freeloaders..

But I guess they are kids.. so whatever .. as long as we aren't feeding their parents.... oh wait.. we are.

To bring some negativity to this thread: charity is good but at first place there should not be need for charity in "most developed nation". This activity is just patch for structural or systemic fail of society as whole.

reply to post by Rockpuck


I don't have a problem with my tax dollars going to feed hungry children or for that matter their parents. People shouldn't have to go hungry; my problem is when the parents aren't trying to improve their lot in life. Speaking as a middle class parent I was always able to provide my child with good nutritious meals; maybe they weren't fancy but they were always good.

These children aren't to blame for the current economic mess and they don't understand why they are hungry just that they are.

As Semper said finally we are doing something right.

We've always been doing something right. The news just ignores anything positive.

OP thank you for sharing that.
The children are thankful too

Originally posted by Rockpuck
...Still not fair middle class families children don't get the same free food.. In all likelihood most are so strapped for cash they can only give their kids a few bucks for lunch, which turns into enough for cookies and chips. At least, that's how it was when I was in school. We all hated the children packing their trays with food and showing their cards to cover the cost.. freeloaders..

But I guess they are kids.. so whatever .. as long as we aren't feeding their parents.... oh wait.. we are.

Rockpuck,
That may be one of the most exposing posts you've ever made here on the boards. :shk:

There's a Big difference between "they can only give their kids a few bucks for lunch, which turns into enough for cookies and chips" and Quite likely the Only "Meal" those kids will have on any given day.

Man. You're better than that.

reply to post by 12m8keall2c


I couldn't agree more. For some children this is the only meal they get; I'm for one glad that they are able to get it. Hunger in America is a huge problem and getting worse. When children are hungry they can't learn in school as well as they should and their development both physical and mental is stunted.

I fear that as time goes on this problem will only get far worse before it gets better.

This should be across the board. It should be the standard for all of our children. Its nice to see good news for a change. This is the first time I can say "my tax dollars hard at work" and not be sarcastic.

Eat your lasagna with a smile little girl. There is more where that came from.

Rockpuck!!!

You have never needed any help in your life?

Helping each other is never wrong. Freeloading is wrong and I hope that is what you were talking about. Children though can't freeload, they are at the mercy of the adults.

The government however is a tiny bit player. Faith based charities are where the real help comes from. I give more to them than I pay in taxes and do it gladly. I've needed and gotten help in my life. Giving is the one thing in Man's nature that is not all screwed up.

I don't ever want to join the dark side of our society that just takes and never gives. I'd rather shoot myself in the head right now.

reply to post by 12m8keall2c


I never said I was against feeding children mate.. you misunderstand.

I'm saying that it's wrong to feed only SOME children, and not ALL children. If we give only poor kids these organic nutritious meals, not all working class kids will be able to afford it... it makes no sense.

Now, if it were a plan to feed ALL CHILDREN the SAME quality of food, I'd be 110% for it. I believe school lunches/breakfasts should be free! Anything associated with education should be FREE. I even think EVERYONE poor or not should have a right to free Higher Education.

Why treat poverty with reward like offers? .. if you offer such programs, offer them to everyone.. I mean damn, that's effin equality isn't it?? And it's not like middle class folks will get a free ride, we will end up paying for it through taxes.. so let their kids enjoy the free lunches too.

Why does everything go to low income people?

I'm middle class and CANNOT pay for my college. I have to take out federal loans that start building interest as soon as I take them out. But low income people get to take out loans that bear no interest until it is time to repay them...

I have no control over what my parents do with their finances. They haven't given me a penny but because of how much they make, I get no help from the fed. I'm in the same exact situation as a low income person.

SYSTEM failure.


And this same principle can be applied to middle class children that get no lunch money from their parents. It happens, I've seen many of my former classmates go hungry because they had no money.

[edit on 5/13/2010 by mnmcandiez]

reply to post by mnmcandiez


I have known quite a few people who's parents would not fund their college education and I agree the system is flawed in that sense. This is about feeding kids that would probably otherwise be going hungry though. Blame and hate the parents all you want, you shouldn't be having children if you can't feed them IMO, but every child in this country (everywhere else too) deserves to have a full stomach.