Feeding Howell County kids while D.C. stalls

As the federal government shutdown continues and faraway decision-makers decide when, if, and how food assistance funding will be released, Howell County school districts say they are committed to keeping kids fed at school. 

 

“Kids don’t learn if they are hungry,” said Dr. Wesley Davis on October 31. 

 

Students at West Plains R-VII schools will not experience any change in the meal support they have been receiving, said Dr. Davis. 

 

More than half of R-VII students participate in the federally funded free or reduced lunch program. In Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III school district, more than sixty percent of students use it. In Willow Springs R-IV, more than half of the students qualify.

 

In most elementary school buildings across the county, nearly seventy-five percent of students qualify. 

 

In short, delayed reimbursement of funding these meals is a significant financial burden. 

 

Dr. Davis said the R-VII school board is committed to meeting needs and filling bellies while they wait on reimbursements. He mentioned the BRIDGES program that provides a wider range of assistance for area families and the backpack program that sends meals home over the weekends. 

 

The Sunrise Rotary Club of West Plains finances the backpack program, and Davis mentioned there are businesses and individuals who fund it, but more donations are always welcome, especially in times of great need. 

 

MV-BT R-III superintendent Lanna Tharp agreed kids in her district should not be impacted, and mentioned resources that support these efforts, “MVBT is blessed to have the Care to Learn program, Life 360 program, and the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables program in place.   We are also blessed by two wonderful communities who care deeply about our students.”

 

In Willow Springs, superintendent Dr. Marty Spence said, “Kids will absolutely continue to be fed… As of right now, none of our student meals are being affected.”

 

“Our reimbursements for the month of October will likely be late due to the shutdown,” Spence continued, “and we will certainly let the community know how they can help if the shutdown continues.”

 

Free and reduced-price meal applications remains available for families impacted by the shutdown, but Missouri is not accepting new applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in November.