While most kids rejoice upon hearing the news of a snow day, many low-income children dread that phone call more than anything else during the winter season.
Across the country, more than 21 million children qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch, but when classes aren’t in session, these kids are at risk of going without food. While there are some systems in place for such situations, consecutive snow days, an unexpected storm that hit at the end of the month when money’s tight, and the closing of emergency food pantries, left a number of communities in despair last week, Sarah Cook, a public relations specialist at Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati, told The Huffington Post via email.
That’s when a group of local teachers decided to teach one of the greatest lessons of their careers.
When Principal Kyle Niederman was preparing to notify parents on Thursday night that Newport Independent Schools would be shuttered for a fifth day, he also put out a call for help to his staff members –- and for good reason, Cincinnati.com reported.
–
The following day, the school district served free lunch at four locations around the city. At Fallon Park Elementary, 350 people showed up to stock up.
“It takes a lot to feed the children,” Deborah Holly, who picked up food for her four grandchildren, told WSLS. “It takes a lot. And then trying to keep a roof over their head…It’s just a lot when you’ve got several kids at home.”
