By CHERIE MA and ALINA RAZVI
At Jericho High School, free lunches have been available to all students as a result of a coronavirus response program implemented by the federal government.
The federal government created this new lunch program to ensure that those in need are being provided enough food during these tough times. According to the New York Times, “Remote schooling created hurdles for low-income parents. There were huge drops in the number of subsidized meals they [schools] were serving, resulting in children going hungry.”
To accommodate the changes brought on by the pandemic, the Sam Springer Gym has been remodeled into a cafeteria. There, students can choose from a variety of options including sandwiches, salads, burritos, a hot meal, and many other offerings. In addition to the Sam Springer, the High School cafeteria has recently reopened, and students can also go there to receive lunch.
The Sam Springer Gym is filled with socially distanced seats for students to eat safely.
At Jericho High School, approximately 600 students take advantage of the free meal service, according to Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs Mr. Manuel. There has been a tremendous amount of positive feedback from the students. Junior Amy R. said, “Free lunch is a very good thing. I would always have a minimal amount of money on my account for school lunches and would sometimes not be able to get lunch on certain days.”
Other students who took part in the free lunch program have a similar opinion. Junior Daryn W. said, “I think free lunches are good because it gives every student the ability to eat during the school day.”
The program has eased the financial burden for many families. Co-principal Dr. Cohen said, “The pandemic has really put some families’ homes in compromised financial circumstances, so the ability for the school to provide free meals to families is crucial and critical for some in our community.”
Although it was originally only supposed to last until December, the program has been extended and will continue to be in effect until the end of the school year. Mr. Manuel said, “I highly encourage our students to take advantage of the free lunch program for the balance of this school year.”