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Free Meals Continue In R.I. Schools

USDA Community Elgibility Provision

Free breakfasts and lunches will be available once again for all students in the Rock Island schools. For the past four years, the district has participated in a federal program called the Community Eligibility Provision, and now it's been renewed for another four years. 

The program helps districts where more than 60 per cent of the students qualify for free and reduced price lunches, but it's available to all students.

And Beth McKenna, Director of Nutrition Services, calls it "phenomenal."

"It allows students and parents to not have to worry about how is their child going to get their meal today. Or did I send my check to school. Or if I don't have money is my child going to be shamed at school. We don't have to worry about that - we feed every child regardless of income status."

Thanks to the federal program, about 35 per cent of students in the Rock Island schools have been eating a free breakfast, while 77 per cent enjoyed a free lunch. 

The free meals will be available once again in all the district's schools when the new school year opens on August 2nd. 

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.