School Lunch Week

October 11, 2009

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Profile America — Sunday, October 11th. This is National School Lunch Week — a name which probably conjures up visions of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But it’s time to note the wholesome lunches being served everyday for school children across the nation and to thank the many patient people who prepare and serve them. There is a recognized link between having a good meal and the ability of a child to learn. This led to the National School Lunch Act more than 50 years ago. There are 56 million children in schools from kindergarten through high school. Of these, 31 million receive either free or reduced-cost lunches because of their family income. More than 10 million of these children also eat breakfast at school. You can find these and more facts about education in America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 506
U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB09-FF.14
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/013847.html
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 551, 213
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html