School lunch debt. This is only a concept in the US. It’s not even conceivable here.
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It exists in the UK as well (unfortunately).
They are rolling out more free breakfasts and lunches, but that is ongoing.
American exceptionalism?
I guess.
My spouse and I volunteered a lot in the public school system when our kids were younger. We brought a milk program in, got discounts from the milk folks, got funding IIRC, etc. A lot of work. We also did a hot lunch program couple times a week, sometimes it was pizza, sometimes hot dogs, etc. that was paid, but the teachers had extra tickets so it was free for those that didn’t have money. I did enough reading back then to be aware of the need for school food programs - it’s a really big deal. I just don’t get how anyone - anyone - looks at this and says we should be charging kids who can’t afford it, instead of just giving it away to them for free. Like, how’d that decision get made.
Oh right. Zero empathy for others. Well shoot, I have no natural empathy but at least I can noodle my way through ‘I should do what people with empathy do. What would somebody with a shred of empathy do here?’.
So yeah, I guess what you said in two words.
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Confirmed by Today.Com, except for one unimportant detail. Kyote lived in Napa County, CA. Girl lived in Indiana. If that’s the state of Indiana, doubt they went in person to the school office, and Today didn’t say they went in person. In context, other things in the Today coverage could suggest that her Indiana is in California.
How large are 9 year-olds’ allowance these days?
From the Today.com article
That article was published June 11, 2019
ETA: nice to know how it’s pronounced, but does that even clarify how many syllables it is? (Merriam Webster says normally 3 in most of the US, but 2 common in parts of the West, and CA happens to be in the West}
So how do you judge who can afford it? Because there is a process to get free food if one qualifies, even in a poor red state like mine. One could certainly debate what the threshold should be. But just because someone has lunch debt doesn’t mean they couldn’t afford it. It means they were given food and didn’t pay the bill yet. The afford it question could be “I lost my job and I couldn’t pay” or “I forgot to send in $ that day/week, and/or my kid got more than regular meal”.
FWIW our local district implemented free breakfast for all students. Post-pandemic I think there were a couple of years with lunch and breakfast free, but last year, needs-based free meals only.
And did your public school not have a cafeteria? I am not sure what it means to bring in a milk program if you already have a milk supplier for the school, or whether you were just paying for a particular day’s meals.
Not sure why you need to judge if they can “afford” a school lunch. The point of a school lunch program, imo, should be to provide nutrition for students. Making it free makes sure it is available to everyone, including kids who can’t afford it. It also prevents the stigma that is absolutely crushing for kids who rely on the free lunches. If some middle-class kids get a free ride I’m fine with that.
Like most of the means-tested welfare programs, it costs about the same to just make it available to everyone when you account for all the money wasted on the bureaucracy needed for the test. It’s just more red tape without any benefit to the government, and a huge detriment to the children who need the help.
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its pretty simple, you let people self assess for food. otherwise you risk people who do need the food, not qualifying.
Its the same with food banks. The qualification should just be ‘they ask for food’.
I doubt the abuse is even worth considering, and I’m doubtful it exists at all. And if it does, it’s just the cost of making sure the people who need food, have it.
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As part of all this server stuff, I’m migrating my photo software. I was just doing that and stumbled across a pic I haven’t seen in a while.
On our 25th, we cycled tip to tip of Prince Edward Island. It was a nice trip. On the way home, there was a sign for world’s largest ax. So I wheeled off the highway and went into this little one horse town in New Brunswick. I didn’t see the ax. We stopped at this hole in the wall pizza joint for some food (no kidding, might’ve been the best pizza I’ve ever had). And I asked the clerk, ‘Say that a fella wanted to see a really big ax, where might he go?’.
They replied in disbelief, like wtf. So I clarified - there was a sign at the highway saying the world’s largest ax.
The clerk just points out the front window lol. I turn around and see this:
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You had to aks
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Have you ever seen the world’s largest hoe?
My son is getting married on Saturday. We are very excited for him and his fiance and the event.
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My son is getting married oct3 in Ottawa. Overnight in Ottawa, then back to my sister’s hobby farm Saturday morning to install a new toilet for them and pickup a few turkeys they’ll have ready for the freezer, then home.
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Went to the good Italian bakery: got some panini buns, apple cinnamon tea biscuits and some tiramisu!! So goooooooood!!! 
Jealous that y’all even have a bad Italian bakery.
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