Sometimes as we look about us, we see what we want to see and don’t see some of the realities that face our students. This past year we had 2,165 students that were categorized by the federal government as “homeless.” The amazing part is that represents about 5% of our school population. These are not students and families that we see on the freeway entry and exit ramps, but rather they tend to be invisible throughout the community – constantly on the move looking for both food and shelter for TONIGHT. Those are the ones we know about, there are others where we know less about that in this difficult economic time have had are reversal of fortune and have similar issues though not the same categorization. All these students and families tend to be “invisible.”
So here is the problem, when we don’t have school there is no school lunch or breakfast (provided through federal funds targeted for that purpose), where and how do these students eat? We do have community organizations such as the Assistance League and others that help bridge that gap. But then there is the case of the summer (which is obviously a much larger problem than a mere weekend).
This is where our great Nutrition Services group has stepped in by partnering with the City of Riverside (Parks and Recreation) to provide through a federal program food (lunch) in the parks for many of our students and more. Last year, we served 145, 679 meals to those young people. Applying the lessons we learned from last year, we will serve 280,000 much-needed meals by the end of summer. In the view of the Nutrition Services group, "hunger doesn't take a vacation, and neither do we." I appreciate the intervention provided by the Nutrition Services group in partnership with the City and personally feel blessed to live in such a community and be able to work with such caring, compassionate people.
How did America loses it's way? I thought we where a country that was based on core values like freedom, equality, and justice. The founders separated from England due to their belief that as Brethern living in America they where not afforded the same rights as "Englishmen".
ReplyDeleteThey did not oppose taxation outright...but demanded a fair and equitable system... taxation where they shared the the taxation burden with their brethren in England. Our founders sought and debated the values listed above. To save the country and fix the Articles of Confederation...they met in Philadephia and cut deal after deal...never happy with the idea of compromise they embraced an ideal that was bigger than the partisan politics of the time.
How as a society can we allow corporations and billionaires to be free from sacrifice while the children I teach live in cars and fear. What did they do deserve this fate? We have asked teachers and other public servants to give back...
What about those with the most???
Bravo to our Food Services Program, feeding our community children. I have seen first hand at the parks, chidren eating their lunch. We cannot forget our children, times are tough, again I say Bravo to our Food Services Program.
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you for this information - it helps us keep perspective. What can we, as a school community, do to help? What type of plan can we implement at school sites to serve these kids?
ReplyDeleteIt has been our sincerest pleasure to work in the parks and do what we can to serve our community!
ReplyDelete