BEREA, Ohio-Last year, 20 million U.S. students qualified for free or reduced school lunches, yet families accumulated over $260 million in school lunch debt. The USDA has now expanded eligibility for a program that offers free breakfast and lunch to all students at qualifying schools. Berea City Schools, for example, will provide free meals to its 5,500 students through the Community Eligibility Program, which reimburses districts based on the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. This program aims to alleviate lunch debt and ensure that all students have access to nutritious meals, which can improve focus and learning. Parents, like Nicole Lesnick, appreciate the financial relief and ease that comes with these free meal programs.
