Most of you remember my peanut butter & jelly soapbox, so I shall not try and beat a dead horse here, but yesterday something happened that caused my ire to resurface over this same issue.
I was in our school cafeteria to grab lunch. They make some pretty good turkey tetrazzini, so I was debating whether to have that or the chef salad (which I also like). As I pondered my choices, Vincent walked in. He is a child that I have adored for years. He truly is like "Pigpen" from Charlie Brown. And it's so easy to just fall in love with him because as disheveled and random as he is, he always is so honest, kind, and gentle.
Vincent said, "Hey, Mrs. N! What are you going to have for lunch?" I said, I'm getting the turkey, what are you having?" He replied, "I have to have PB&J. My Mom hasn't paid for my lunch for a while." He hesitated a moment and said, "I sure hope they let me have some of that spinach!"
Now, although as a child, I wouldn't touch it, I do like spinach today...when it's cooked the way I like it. But school cafeterias notoriously cook the life out of it and it's just plain unappetizing in its appearance. I've not done the true research, but I suspect Vincent was one of a handful of students who was anticipating spinach for lunch.
He told the manager that he had to have PB&J and was told, "Well, if that's the case, you need to put the chocolate milk back and get white." Um, they ARE the SAME price! Then, as if to add insult to injury, he meekly asked, "May I please have some spinach?" What I heard next could have knocked me over..."No, you cannot have spinach or fruit, you only get PB&J!" This is America, people! It's supposed to be a FEDERAL program. I work with kids who may or may not get a meal at home in the evening. This may be their only meal in the day.
All he really wanted was the SPINACH! It wasn't ICE CREAM he was asking for...or the cookies that were available. It was SPINACH! What is wrong with this picture??
I know you're probably asking why I didn't pay for Vincent's lunch. TRUST ME, I would have if I had had a penny in my own account or the money in my pocket. I didn't though. I had to borrow from my DS 4's account to pay for my turkey...I mean I was one meal away from PB&J and white milk myself!!!
Honestly, today I have extra money AND my checkbook so I can fill my account in case I run into any more Vincents in the lunch line. But I know it's a short solution to a huge problem. I know I need to pursue it more. Once again, I'll be contacting the person in charge of food and nutrition services here in our county.
My Mother used to tell me to eat my spinach for the poor starving children in Africa...maybe we need to look at the poor starving children in our own backyard!
17 comments:
Well, this just breaks my heart. I'm saying a little prayer for this unknown (to me) boy today. I hope you do talk to someone about it. Honestly, as a teacher, do you have a least one heart break a day?
Oh my...this post just made me so sad. I bet you could count on one hand the number of kids who would eat cafeteria spinach, much less WANT to eat it. And helping may be a drop in the bucket adn may not chnage the worls, but it can change the Vincents out there.
It seems to me that even if the child is getting a free lunch it should include a vegetable. I think a call to the Principal, the Food Services manager, and the Superintendent of Schools ought to take care of that. They keep telling the kids to eat their veggies.... just give it to the kids that WANT it!!! Deliver me from the stupidity that is the school cafe!
Sigh...this made me weepy, along with the SAC meeting at the middle school where I found out that kids are being dropped off at school as early as 6:15, when school doesn't start until 9:30. Kind of makes you want to take them all home.
As a kid I remember being on the 'program' for both breakfast and lunch... but I don't remember ever running into that situation. My heart breaks for the little boy... I found myself wishing I could reach in my pocket and pay for it just so he could have some spinach. :*(
This broke my heart. Was this person Vincent was talking to the manager of the cafeteria or a server? Sounds like this "person" could use a few communications skills.
It's so unfortunate there are many kids like Vincent and our system isn't really there for them.
I sure hope your intervention will make improvements to your school.
That's horrible. Just plain old horrible. It breaks my heart that we even HAVE a problem of hungry children in this country.
I would only guess that they probably threw out most of that spinach at the end of the day. What a sad, sad situation.
What a sad situation for this little boy..what would it hurt to have given him some spinach... I hope some rules can be bent...My husband told me that he could never afford lunch at school and would walk over to a little store where a lady gave him a milkshake everyday for free...She was an angel for sure..have a blessed week-end.
Hugs, Baba
This is soooooo sad! It just makes me sick. I'm with ya -- they should have give the kid some spinach! I KNOW how much spinach they threw away at the end of the day! I can remember when kids who got "free lunch" got the SAME exact lunch everyone else got - and NOBODY was any wiser!!! In our county, the free lunch is either PBJ or Balogna - no choice - just whatever they are doing that day -- along with either an apple or banana - again not a choice -- but they DO get to choose chocolate or white milk! I think if I lived in your county I would be making a HUGE fuss... and probably be trying to draw the media into it... but I'd ask God first!
Oh wow. That breaks my heart. I remember talking to my mom in 2nd grade about a boy in my class who brought four crackers and a slice of unwrapped cheese for lunch. That was all he was having. I never realized how poor some people are.
WHAT is happening in America and to the country I grew up in. Mickey & I just walk around and wonder how in the world we ended up where we are!!! These posts get my dander up!!!!! I'm glad you are taking it higher up. Those kids are so blessed to have you in their midst and on their side. Keep up the good work, Susan.
Susan
That is so sad.
When we were kids, we got discount lunch tickets, and the lunch lady accused my brother of stealing them from another kid because she thought he was too well dressed to need them. Some people need to get off their high horses!
This wrenched my heart, too...very sad!
I'm going to say a prayer for this boy, too!
Glad you will be speaking up on his (and others') behalf, Susan!
This is appalling. What would it have hurt for that lunch worker to put some spinach on his plate...even if it was 'against the rules'. How much could a spoonful of spinach cost???
Sometimes we cut off our noses to spite our faces.
Yes, I do agree. Lately we have had a whole lot of missionaries at our church. you see those poor little ones with nothing to eat...Yes we need to help them if we can but i have always wondered.."what about those here that need help too"....what about those here that are starving. I do hope that you contact someone. it needs to be done.
Sandy
Heartwrenching - just breaks my heart.
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