Against Supper Plan
To the Editor:
I met and talked with school administrators on the plan they are considering to provide free supper for students. Finding out that every student could get this although the expected number would be a few hundred, I felt that I should take the pulse of this community on this issue. I approached this from being a Christian first and taxpayer second. Jesus said, “You will always have the poor with you.” Matthew 26:11. The debt clock has the following unsustainable numbers this week. U.S. Published National Debt $27.9 trillion. The Truth $140 trillion. Each taxpayer’s share $909,000. We have to get tough on any dollar we spend be it local, state or federal. We are at a breaking point and must be prepared for a situation, like personal bankruptcy, when life changes instantly.
I am taking surveys around town to inform and see where others stand. My list of thoughts to consider are that we already have significant local provisions for food from free sources (AMEN and churches along with seasonal meal handouts.) Government programs already provide generously for groceries. We already provide free breakfast and lunches to all students. One of the biggest is that growing up most of us learned how to cook watching and helping in our kitchens at home or a family member’s. Preparing supper was a family event and a time to talk to mom and sometimes dad. We learned how to set the table, manners, family time talking together about our day and shared the food we cooked. This takes a huge life skill from children. Healthy meals do not come in cartons once a week for the week. They are made fresh in the kitchen at home or selected from the menu at an eatery. This will increase dumpster costs for schools and greatly impact the landfill. It has an impact on employee cost and utilities. I also envision local eateries having to close and/or lay off employees. We are coming out of COVID executive measures so now the budgets at the cafeteria’s should return to pre-COVID income levels.
We live in a small town that cares for the welfare of all citizens. I am sure a small amount of students have less on their tables, maybe a few hungry. This breaks my heart. The best solution for all seems to do as we used to do decades ago. The aware party helps guide a child or parent to local opportunities of charity. They meet cheerful volunteers who guide them to charities and churches to meet the need and help them stand – a win-win situation. Better a person they see and respect who helps them than a faceless government program that spends dollars that hurt all of us. Also, our church has a weekly youth group meeting. We feed the children both food and Jesus.
If we truly care for children, we will cut budgets and waste. We will find ways to reduce taxes by not providing for every need. We will be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ and bring all to His saving grace and eternal life. Not spending any new dollars in grant or other programs gives the children a future not another encumbrance that reduces their future family’s paycheck. Personally, I am sending back my stimulus checks as I don’t want a government to give me ‘free’ money that hurts you, my neighbor and every child’s future. My parents taught us that God will provide...and no other will. Thank you Al and Kitty Chernosky for this truth. Your gift of Jesus was the best gift of all. I will be at the school board meeting March 22 to express these thoughts and I appreciate your support in attendance and/or on my survey. God Bless.
Patsy Chernosky Parker
La Grange