The Grand Rapids Press
06/06/12 Monica Scott
“Parent of 5,306 students to get funds for nutritious
food: Federal Program will provide $60
per child, per month”
On Saturday, the families of 5,306 students from Grand
Rapids schools will begin receiving $60 per child, per month, to buy nutritious
food.
More than 2,800 families recently received congratulations
letters after being randomly selected
for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) for Children program funded by
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The money is received on debit
cards.
The $60 stipend will be given in June, July and August.
Parents were not disqualified if they already receive food stamps or other
state assistance. The families of the 2,500 students involved in the program
last year were allowed to remain in the program as long as they completed the
consent forms.
This program is separate
from the longtime free summer meals program operated by Grand Rapids Public
Schools for children in the area, regardless of what school district they
are in. Beginning June 18, children 18 and younger can receive a free lunch
this summer and at school and community sites.
There are rules regarding what and where food can be bought.
All of the food items in the summer food package are approved by Women, Infants
and Children. Families must shop at certain stores and buy certain brands and
types of nutritious food and drink as part of the benefit.
Common Sense Review
There are a few problems with this....
So what are we getting for the $955,080… governmental waste!
I took the time to speak with the Food workers at the GRPS
Nutrition dept. I was informed that every
child in the GRPS area get an application to take home for their parent to fill
out and the chosen are out of the
application that were brought back received.
There is never a review of the household income, so families who make a
good income or families already receive Bridge cards, so that the program make
a positive effect on the households who truly need the assistance.
The program doesn’t look into the child (school attendance, grades,
legal issues) so to make sure the children who work hard to better themselves may
be over looked and the program benefits the children are not making an effort
in life.
GRPS offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack for all
students from the age of 18 and younger.
These meals are available in 30 locations.
So even after the taxpayers pay for 2 square a day during
the school year, we also pay for 2 squares during the summer as well as $ 1
million are given 2,800 families in the GRPS system. How are the children starving?
Ok, $60/month… Really?!?!
In a 30 day per month cycle equals $2 a day. Does this make or break a family? Will the children starve if they don’t get
the $60/mo?
Ultimately this million dollar program, is throwing money at
a school system and no more…
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