The USDA Pandemic School Lunch Waiver To Expire
According to the USDA, they don't have the authority to reinstate the waiver that had been put into place by the National School Lunch Program, which was created to help feed students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This program will stop on August 31st from seven days a week, to a five day a week program. Parents will be required to pick up the meals for each individual student's school, according to WILX. What that means, is if you have one student in elementary and the other in middle school, the parents will need to go to both locations to pick up the meals.
Senator Debbie Stabenow as well as the Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice, are taking a stand against this, saying this may not work out for every family.
"Maybe you don't have a car and are riding the bus. Or, maybe you're an essential worker and you're coming after work and trying to figure out as a minimum wage worker how you're going to be able to get the food for your children," said Stabenow. "Now, instead of stopping at one place, you have to stop at three places. It makes no sense."
Stabenow says that she is working with the state educations representatives as well as other members, to hopefully renew the old waiver.