Understanding Need is Complex
There are more than 35 schools in Miami and Hardin Counties. The nearly 10,000 school-aged children in these schools have varying levels of need, and each community has differing costs of living. But one measurement of need is the Federally subsidized school lunch program. For the upcoming school year (2012-13), a child's family must have less than 130% of the Federal Poverty Line income to be eligible for free lunches, or have 185% FPL income to qualify for reduced charges on lunches. (For further information on this program see: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-03-23/pdf/2012-7036.pdf or http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/notices/iegs/iegs.htm )
The percentages of students qualifying for FREE lunches in Hardin and Miami Counties range from about 25 - 50%, depending on the school, and approximately 50% of the two counties' children qualify for either free or reduced lunchs. For thousands of these children, the only nutritious meals they receive are those that they eat at school. Many do not eat regularly (or at all) on weekends, or when school is not in session.
As a result, some schools have begun "backpack" programs, which send children home with essential food items so that they can have meals on the weekends. Currently, in Hardin County, at the Kenton City School District, there are over 900 qualifying students (those who meet the Free Lunch Program guidelines), but not all their needs are met. The backpack program there serves between 25 - 30 % of actual need. It is a similar situation in Miami County, as well. Sadly, this is a common problem throughout Ohio, and it is the Artists Against Hunger's hopes that our efforts will be noticed, communtiies will unite with Artists and join us in fighting this most basic problem. Hungry stomachs certainly do not lend to keen minds, but hunger can certainly lead to deparation, and crime.
Analyzing the Guidelines.
Federal standards were created over 40 years ago, and not only has time lapsed, but the methods of calculation have not kept up with the reality. And despite the cutoff point being adjusted, it is not adjusted requently enough to keep up with the growing costs of living.
According to the Fedral Census,13.20% of the population of Hardin County were below the federal poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18. Yet, nearly 50% of our students are on free or reduced lunch. Those figures are not consitent.. And having income above the Federal Poverty Line does not mean that one cam live independent of public assistance. The thee charts below, shows the maximum annual income allowances fro varying Federal programs, (in the light blue) while an extensive study of how much it actually takes (on average) to be self-sufficient in Ohio is in the dark blue. (For details on this study, go to: http://www.cap-dayton.org/contentmgr/documents/Self-SufficiencyStandardinOhio.pdf
The percentages of students qualifying for FREE lunches in Hardin and Miami Counties range from about 25 - 50%, depending on the school, and approximately 50% of the two counties' children qualify for either free or reduced lunchs. For thousands of these children, the only nutritious meals they receive are those that they eat at school. Many do not eat regularly (or at all) on weekends, or when school is not in session.
As a result, some schools have begun "backpack" programs, which send children home with essential food items so that they can have meals on the weekends. Currently, in Hardin County, at the Kenton City School District, there are over 900 qualifying students (those who meet the Free Lunch Program guidelines), but not all their needs are met. The backpack program there serves between 25 - 30 % of actual need. It is a similar situation in Miami County, as well. Sadly, this is a common problem throughout Ohio, and it is the Artists Against Hunger's hopes that our efforts will be noticed, communtiies will unite with Artists and join us in fighting this most basic problem. Hungry stomachs certainly do not lend to keen minds, but hunger can certainly lead to deparation, and crime.
Analyzing the Guidelines.
Federal standards were created over 40 years ago, and not only has time lapsed, but the methods of calculation have not kept up with the reality. And despite the cutoff point being adjusted, it is not adjusted requently enough to keep up with the growing costs of living.
According to the Fedral Census,13.20% of the population of Hardin County were below the federal poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18. Yet, nearly 50% of our students are on free or reduced lunch. Those figures are not consitent.. And having income above the Federal Poverty Line does not mean that one cam live independent of public assistance. The thee charts below, shows the maximum annual income allowances fro varying Federal programs, (in the light blue) while an extensive study of how much it actually takes (on average) to be self-sufficient in Ohio is in the dark blue. (For details on this study, go to: http://www.cap-dayton.org/contentmgr/documents/Self-SufficiencyStandardinOhio.pdf