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Dozens of students line up to receive their lunch.
Carlmont High School’s free breakfasts and lunches provide accessible and popular meals for students.
School districts play an important role as suppliers for students who do not have access to basic necessities such as school meals. In California, where 1 in 7 children are food insecure, schools have assumed responsibility for feeding schoolchildren, in accordance with the Law of 2021 on the free school canteen for all. The bill, initiated by Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, requires all K-12 schools to provide free breakfasts and lunches to students.
San Mateo County has not experienced the same economic woes as other parts of the country, as evidenced by low unemployment rate and high median income. However, some local families have suffered a financial blow during the pandemic and need help accessing consistent meals that provide adequate nutrition.
San Mateo County also faces issues of eligibility for food services as the cost of living is much higher, making poverty standards very different from national requirements.
Aside from the obvious benefits of free school meals for students who might not have access to food, school meals also strike a chord with the student body in general, lunchtime especially. Many see meals as a good addition that takes the stress out of the school day.
“With a free lunch option, there is no more responsibility for the parents or the child, so in the end… there is always a reliable source at the school,” said Thais Núñez, a student in second year of Carlmont.
The popularity of these meals is, in part, due to the convenience factor. Many students find that they simply don’t have the time or space for packed lunches. Rather than being hungry, these students line up for school meals.
“
It’s one less stress to have to pay for that ”
– Brooklyn Alexander
“Most of the time my life is hectic and I don’t have time to prepare my lunches, or I don’t have room in my backpack to bring one,” said Brooklyn Alexander, second student. year at Carlmont.
Arthur Gu, a freshman, has a similar opinion to Alexander’s about school meals.
“It really helps that school lunches are always free,” Gu said.
The food service department offers a wide range of options for students to choose from, giving each student the chance to find a meal they prefer. Although a healthier menu was suggested, many students remain fans of the current options.
“[The school meals] providing the means to a lot of different people, ”noted Alexander.
Whether an alternate or primary option, Carlmont’s school meals have proven popular with students and will continue to help those who use this resource.
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