There is/is not such a thing as a free lunch
June 26, 2017 6:28 PM Subscribe
My community offers free lunch and snacks for children during the summer. Should I participate in this program?
I don't need any financial assistance to feed my kids, but on occasion I've been in the same place as the distribution program and it's fun for my kids to get a snack. The food is generally healthy and palatable. What my kids don't eat I eat myself (roasted garbanzo beans) or take to the food bank (canned fruit). I've been operating on the assumption that increased usage means the program will find it easier to keep its funding, but I don't actually know one way or the other. What's the reality of the moral calculus?
I don't need any financial assistance to feed my kids, but on occasion I've been in the same place as the distribution program and it's fun for my kids to get a snack. The food is generally healthy and palatable. What my kids don't eat I eat myself (roasted garbanzo beans) or take to the food bank (canned fruit). I've been operating on the assumption that increased usage means the program will find it easier to keep its funding, but I don't actually know one way or the other. What's the reality of the moral calculus?
It really depends on what the program is set up for, morally. It also matters how it's set up in terms of staffing and supplies. If it's there to provide healthy meals for kids when the school is closed, great. If it's there to provide lunches to kids without food options at home, less great. If your presence there means someone who is volunteering at the program has to make one more meal, that's just a fractional amount of extra work. If there's a limited amount of food and not enough to go around, less great. I agree though that usually having more people participate can make a program look good.
All of these things are find-outable. My usual MO if there aren't other indicators is to go to the thing and make a donation to the organization. It's useful for children to understand that there are people with food insecurity and that, in many ways, they are just like them. We have a food bank in my town. It's very clear that it's for everyone. Occasionally someone maybe gets some food there who also has food at home. The town feels that's an okay thing and it means that no one has to "prove" they are hungry which is considered a better thing overall.
posted by jessamyn at 6:34 PM on June 26, 2017 [18 favorites]
All of these things are find-outable. My usual MO if there aren't other indicators is to go to the thing and make a donation to the organization. It's useful for children to understand that there are people with food insecurity and that, in many ways, they are just like them. We have a food bank in my town. It's very clear that it's for everyone. Occasionally someone maybe gets some food there who also has food at home. The town feels that's an okay thing and it means that no one has to "prove" they are hungry which is considered a better thing overall.
posted by jessamyn at 6:34 PM on June 26, 2017 [18 favorites]
I really think you should discuss this with the administrators of the program. These programs are not a monolith.
While it is possible that this program is funded with some kind of endlessly refreshing money, it is also possible that your kids' fun is taking food out of someone else's mouth.
The reason these programs do not challenge you for proof of income or other eligibility is because parents won't go there or let their kids go there for fear of ICE and CPS. The fact that there is no bar to entry is not the same as a welcome mat.
If you think your children are learning important things about how not everyone always has enough to eat, it might be worth making the arrangement for them to continue to visit occasionally while you also show them how to donate money to the program.
I don't know that taking food away from one program to donate to another is a great idea either. Find out if you can give back items like canned goods if you don't want them.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:40 PM on June 26, 2017 [8 favorites]
While it is possible that this program is funded with some kind of endlessly refreshing money, it is also possible that your kids' fun is taking food out of someone else's mouth.
The reason these programs do not challenge you for proof of income or other eligibility is because parents won't go there or let their kids go there for fear of ICE and CPS. The fact that there is no bar to entry is not the same as a welcome mat.
If you think your children are learning important things about how not everyone always has enough to eat, it might be worth making the arrangement for them to continue to visit occasionally while you also show them how to donate money to the program.
I don't know that taking food away from one program to donate to another is a great idea either. Find out if you can give back items like canned goods if you don't want them.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:40 PM on June 26, 2017 [8 favorites]
Best answer: I think it's absolutely fine to get a snack for your kids if you're there anyway - and for yourself if you genuinely need a snack at the time you're there. But as you realize, free snacks aren't free, so if you have the money to spare, make a reasonably-sized monthly or fairly nice annual donation to the organization with a note of appreciation.
I definitely wouldn't take something you're not going to eat, though.
posted by Mchelly at 7:07 PM on June 26, 2017 [11 favorites]
I definitely wouldn't take something you're not going to eat, though.
posted by Mchelly at 7:07 PM on June 26, 2017 [11 favorites]
Best answer: I think you should speak to someone at the program about your situation as depending on their resources you may be taking someone else's spot, but on the other hand your usage might be helping them if they have a target of people served they need to meet, and they would be the only ones to know which one it is.
Also, my understanding is that it is harder to claw-back programs that everyone makes use of in comparison to those that are directed to disadvantaged people as it becomes thought of as more of an entitlement than a hand-out. So as someone who doesn't "need it" you may be actually helping.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:29 PM on June 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, my understanding is that it is harder to claw-back programs that everyone makes use of in comparison to those that are directed to disadvantaged people as it becomes thought of as more of an entitlement than a hand-out. So as someone who doesn't "need it" you may be actually helping.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:29 PM on June 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
One of my favorite benefits of participating in this type of program is getting to know my neighbors and their kids. Gathering at the park with other families who live close by and eating together is pretty great. I think the diversity of the community should be represented. I don't worry too much about whether my family or anyone else is needy enough to accept free food.
I don't want to come across as telling you what/how much to worry, though! I think it's lovely that you are being conscientious about this!
posted by deadcrow at 7:43 PM on June 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
I don't want to come across as telling you what/how much to worry, though! I think it's lovely that you are being conscientious about this!
posted by deadcrow at 7:43 PM on June 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I believe this is almost certainly a Summer Food Service Program site. You can verify this by searching on the USDA "Find a Site" map using your zip code, or your local city or school district may have a list of sites in your area as well (mine does). If you find that it is SFSP site, your children absolutely are allowed to take meals.
The Summer Food Service Program was indeed created with the intention to provide nutritious meals during the summer school break to children who depend on the National School Lunch Program for meals when school is in session. Because of this, they do intentionally choose site locations to be near areas where a high percentage (at least 50%) of kids receive free or reduced price school meals. However, ALL children under 18 (and disabled people over 18) are explicitly eligible to receive meals from these "open" SFSP sites, and they intentionally do not make anyone enroll to receive meals or "prove" low income status or need to take them. Yes, the intention is to reach food insecure children, but your children are not taking the food out of anyone else's mouths.
I work with partners who run these programs, and at least in my area they are always trying to attract more kids and serve more meals. They are reimbursed per meal they serve. Nationally, this is one of our most underutilized nutrition programs and they want to grow their numbers and expand their reach (especially to the food insecure kids the program was originally intended for).
Check out this fact sheet from the Food Research and Action Center, and Wikipedia gives a concise history of the program.
posted by ialwayscryatendings at 7:49 PM on June 26, 2017 [32 favorites]
The Summer Food Service Program was indeed created with the intention to provide nutritious meals during the summer school break to children who depend on the National School Lunch Program for meals when school is in session. Because of this, they do intentionally choose site locations to be near areas where a high percentage (at least 50%) of kids receive free or reduced price school meals. However, ALL children under 18 (and disabled people over 18) are explicitly eligible to receive meals from these "open" SFSP sites, and they intentionally do not make anyone enroll to receive meals or "prove" low income status or need to take them. Yes, the intention is to reach food insecure children, but your children are not taking the food out of anyone else's mouths.
I work with partners who run these programs, and at least in my area they are always trying to attract more kids and serve more meals. They are reimbursed per meal they serve. Nationally, this is one of our most underutilized nutrition programs and they want to grow their numbers and expand their reach (especially to the food insecure kids the program was originally intended for).
Check out this fact sheet from the Food Research and Action Center, and Wikipedia gives a concise history of the program.
posted by ialwayscryatendings at 7:49 PM on June 26, 2017 [32 favorites]
Best answer: If your kids show up, they are making the food service normal for everyone-- not a stigmatized thing for poor kids only. If your kids like it, I would go. If they take donations or you can volunteer, do that too.
posted by blnkfrnk at 7:55 PM on June 26, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by blnkfrnk at 7:55 PM on June 26, 2017 [32 favorites]
I really think you should discuss this with the administrators of the program. These programs are not a monolith.
Yeah! This! Just ask. We have those in our hood, and ours is set up "free for kids, $4 for adults" kind of thing. When we go, I quietly slip them more than our fair share, because we can more than afford it.f BUT, we think things like eating snacks at a park with your geographic community is a great equalizer, and important for my kid to experience (and for us too). Like, he's going to be eating free school lunch too, for the same reasons. But my wife and I have politics that are far left of center....so, take that FWIW.
And as some others have mentioned, these programs do better the more people use them. So. Eat up.
posted by furnace.heart at 7:57 PM on June 26, 2017
Yeah! This! Just ask. We have those in our hood, and ours is set up "free for kids, $4 for adults" kind of thing. When we go, I quietly slip them more than our fair share, because we can more than afford it.f BUT, we think things like eating snacks at a park with your geographic community is a great equalizer, and important for my kid to experience (and for us too). Like, he's going to be eating free school lunch too, for the same reasons. But my wife and I have politics that are far left of center....so, take that FWIW.
And as some others have mentioned, these programs do better the more people use them. So. Eat up.
posted by furnace.heart at 7:57 PM on June 26, 2017
My family was one of the most affluent in the lower-middle class Appalachian town I grew up in.
My parents sent me to the local park during summers where we ate this same free breakfast and lunch you are describing.
I'm pretty sure it was because my parents were cheap and wanted free food (probably also the free/cheap day camp), but its still one of my most cherished memories growing up.
Economic segregation isn't terrible in homogenous small towns (everyone goes to the same high school) but it was still a great way to interact and meet new kids from other grade schools and learn new experiences. Send em.
posted by sandmanwv at 7:58 PM on June 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
My parents sent me to the local park during summers where we ate this same free breakfast and lunch you are describing.
I'm pretty sure it was because my parents were cheap and wanted free food (probably also the free/cheap day camp), but its still one of my most cherished memories growing up.
Economic segregation isn't terrible in homogenous small towns (everyone goes to the same high school) but it was still a great way to interact and meet new kids from other grade schools and learn new experiences. Send em.
posted by sandmanwv at 7:58 PM on June 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
All this general info about the program is great, but the deciding factor for me would be if at the end of the day at this particular site, they ever have to turn hungry kids away or they run out of things. You could find that out by asking.
posted by kapers at 6:46 AM on June 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by kapers at 6:46 AM on June 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm with blnkfrnk on this in that if we come across free lunch for kids and my kid is there and wants one, I let her do it! And I don't give her a big talk about poor kids and lunches because I kind of think that is all BS. In that, a program of free lunches for all would be awesome and free lunch for kids is justice. I don't want to pull her aside and whisper, "No, that's for poor kids." Also, this makes me think I need to go and find our local free lunch at parks program and donate some funds because I think free lunches should be status quo.
posted by amanda at 8:07 AM on June 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by amanda at 8:07 AM on June 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well, that was easy! I found it and they had a donation form and done. This is a great program, bq, thanks for bringing this up!
posted by amanda at 8:13 AM on June 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by amanda at 8:13 AM on June 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
Our city has a similar program, and they're very clear it's open to ALL families. One lunch spot is at a public pool. It's sort of ridiculous (and potentially poor shaming) for only some families to participate and not others for what is clearly a declared meal to help out families. So, the program here is run with no questions asked, no id required, no proof of need and it doesn't matter if you don't have need --- or maybe the need isn't financial --- like your spouse is in the hospital for a few weeks and you need one thing off your plate and so not having to pack a lunch for you kid to go to the pool for an hour makes your life just a little bit easier.
I'd definitely consider making a donation to the organization itself if you have the means to do so. It's a great way to give back to something you've benefited from if you can.
posted by zizzle at 9:01 AM on June 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'd definitely consider making a donation to the organization itself if you have the means to do so. It's a great way to give back to something you've benefited from if you can.
posted by zizzle at 9:01 AM on June 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
I went to a similar program as a kid and I don't think it's because we were in need - I think it was for the daytime supervision, activities and social opportunities. It was just normal to eat the snacks provided when the other kids did. Assuming it's part of summer meal service, I don't see the problem with it. I wouldn't take excess food home or try to bring it elsewhere, though.
posted by Miko at 1:50 PM on June 27, 2017
posted by Miko at 1:50 PM on June 27, 2017
According to this SFSP fact sheet, "Any full or partial meals taken off-site are not reimbursable and must be deducted from the meal counts submitted for reimbursement." So you should stop taking your leftover meal food to the food bank unless you have assurance that the meal program will already be reimbursed for the food you take.
posted by nicebookrack at 9:01 PM on June 27, 2017
posted by nicebookrack at 9:01 PM on June 27, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks for your help everyone. I talked to the volunteers running lunch the next time we went and got answers that make me comfortable continuing to attend occasionally.
posted by bq at 6:24 PM on July 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by bq at 6:24 PM on July 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
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