This ticks me off ( school lunch related )

[Mskanga]

Yesterday we got the letters telling us what teachers my kids got , it also gave us all the information about lunches and breakfast. My husband asked if we were eligible for reduced lunch and I said no because we make too much money.
Then my daughter says to me, Desiree gets reduced lunch . I asked if she was talking about the only one I know and she said yes and that she's been getting reduced lunch for years.
That royally ticked me off , the father of this kid ( they live in our development ) told me and my girlfriend about three years ago when my friend bought a brand new car, that anyone paying more than $200 a month in a car payment , was crazy. Basically he called her crazy.
This man also spends more time not working than working, drives around in a conversion van , has three other children all living at home and all having cars , and has no problem spending days going around preaching . The wife stays home also , but neither one of them have any problem finding time to go around preaching their religion. Also this family has a DCL cruise reserved for December , but they can't pay full price for lunch for the kid!!
I'm all for people getting a break when it's really needed, but not for people who just think that because they pay taxes they deserve free lunch. It ticks me off because this man will do whatever it takes to save a penny even if he has to lie about it.

 

[DoeWDW]

It's a shame, but there are always a few people who find a way to cheat the system. With that said, there are also many people who NEED those reduced price lunches and I'll pay for a few cheaters so they're available to those who truly need them.

That neighbor of yours will have his own conscience and his Maker to answer to - it all comes around in the end.

 

[Trish Bessette]

There is ALWAYS a few in a crowd like the one your mentioning. Don't waste your energy having it upset you. I truly feel what goes around comes around.

I, on the otherhand, am blessed I am able to pay full price for my girls lunches.

 

[Mskanga]

Trish, I feel blessed that I am able to pay full price for both of my children too and that's the way I look at it, but at times I think what ever happened to the working for a living?

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I work in a school system outside the town I live in and the free and reduced lunch forms do not ask for any kind of W2 form at all. People just fill them out, put in the amount of money they make and then the forms come back to the office and they are calculated to see if that family gets free or reduced lunches. Personally, I find it disturbing because anyone can fill in any amount they want to. I know that there are several people who lie on them, a good percentage of the student body is either receiving free and/or reduced lunches.

Every year we have to pick 3 or 4 families and ask them for proof of the W2's, etc by State law. But other than that, if they aren't picked, nobody checks.

It is a screwy system.

 

[SC Minnie]

It has always amazed me why some people will lie about needing free/reduced lunch. DD's lunch is only $1.20/day and she takes her lunch a couple of days/wk. There are people that really do need the assistance but there are a lot that are taking advantage of the 'system' for $6/wk.

 

[Cindy B]

Well, in my school district if you have free or reduced lunch, you get free field trips. (Not bad considering the field trips cost the students about $65 last year).

I had a screwy thing last year. Two female students, one sister got a reduced lunch, and the other sister didn't. (they both live in the same house, but most have different mothers--)

 

[monkeyboy]

DEVILS ADVOCATE-

Do you know his entire finacial situation or just waht you are seeing?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by monkeyboy

Do you know his entire finacial situation or just waht you are seeing?

It's very possible that they qualify despite their outward appearances. Just because they have a lot of stuff and talk a good game doesn't mean that they have the income coming in to pay for it all.

 

[Mskanga]

No I do not know his entire financial situation but I know one thing. If they can drive around in a conversion van , and if they can take a DCL cruise for vacation , that tells me that they can also afford to pay $1.15 for lunch as opposed to .30

 

[CEDmom]

I don't blame you for being upset. It sounds like these people are living on credit and getting freebies wherever and whenever they can. Their world will come tumbling down eventually. Take the moral high ground.

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by Mskanga
No I do not know his entire financial situation but I know one thing. If they can drive around in a conversion van , and if they can take a DCL cruise for vacation , that tells me that they can also afford to pay $1.15 for lunch as opposed to .30

how new is the van,, what did he pay for it..I've seen used vans go for under 5000 easily...maybe they've saved for years for the vacation...

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Maybe when he works it's under the table so it doesn't get reported as income.
I know at my school no one brags about getting reduced lunches; in fact they are kind of embarrased about it. One day the kids had a "lunch boycott" and brownbagged; it really singled out the free/reduced lunch kids because they still bought. Now when the threat of a boycott comes up I will try to find a student in charge to point that out so the kids don't get embarrassed.
Our reduced price/free lunch kids also get free novels or other school supplies required above and beyond the fees, and I think they don't have to pay fees either.
Robin M.

 

[Mskanga]

I save every year for our vacations , but maybe I don't have my priorities in the right order because lunch for my kids in schools get paid before vacation.

 

[missyc]

Just a little FYI.
Lunches in my county cost $1.45 for elementary (more for middle and high school) and breakfast is $.80. That's more than people realize, especially with more than 1 child in the family. My nephew leaves the house at 6:30 and would rather eat breakfast at school with his friends (plus it's just so early to do at home!).
Anyways, I'll use my family of 3 kids as an example. Breakfast and lunch 5 days per week times 3 kids is $135 per month. Even excluding breakfast it is still $87 for lunches only. This is a big expense for some families. Be happy that the kids are getting a farely decent meal. And don't begrudge the children that because of what you THINK you know about the parents financial situation. A van doesn't but food. Although the cost of the vacation probably could!
Sometimes I just think people worry too much about other people, and not enough about real things that really matter. This is especially true when one person finds out that another has something that they don't.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by missyc
Sometimes I just think people worry too much about other people, and not enough about real things that really matter. This is especially true when one person finds out that another has something that they don't.

Well said.

 

[justjulie]

we had a school lunch program. We don't have such a thing up here in Canada - at least not in either of my children's school and I would gladly pay for a hot lunch - just to know they were eating. They get tired of sandwich lunches all year long and winter is long and cold and they would love a hot lunch. I managed to get a "test program" going in their schools but the lunches are $4 each and that gets expensive. They're testing the program but if there's not enough interest it will not proceed.

Just out of curiosity, what does your lunch consist of? For $4 we get, for example, macaroni and cheese, carrot and celery sticks and a drink.

 

[monkeyboy]

We used to take tuna fish on whitebread to school
Place in in an unrefrigerated desk for hours before lunch time

 

[missyc]

They have 3 choices every day for the main entree and a couple for fruits and vegetables. I saw my DD and nephew during lunch yesterday and they each had a breaded chicken patty (like for a sandwich, but no bread), mashed potatoes, applesauce (or canteloupe), white or chocolate milk, and fruit juice. I noticed it seemed small to me, but it was more than most of the kids could finish. Definately better than what I could send in a bag!

 

[missyc]

Originally posted by monkeyboy

We used to take tuna fish on whitebread to school




Isn't it funny we aren't all DEAD !