In Wednesday’s Eagle, we read about the steps that Butler Area School District is taking in order to make sure that children are fed, even if they are outside the walls of the school.

Until recently, all students in all Butler County school districts could use the federal free and reduced meal program — an early pandemic era allowance — which provided all students with lunch at no cost.

That has now ended, leaving only a few schools across the county to qualify for this “free for all students” food. Within Butler Area School District, Broad Street Elementary, Emily Brittain Elementary, McQuistion Elementary and Center Avenue Community School are Community Eligibility Provision schools, meaning these elementary schools still qualify to give all students free meals.

As this transition happens, the Butler school district’s Weekend Backpack Program is encouraging families to apply, even if they don’t meet the other qualifications.

The Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation discreetly places a plastic bag of child-friendly, single-serving snacks and easily prepared meals into the backpacks of registered children for the weekends.

Kim Thomas, coordinator for the Kids' Weekend Backpack Program, said the foundation served about 300 children in the Butler Area School District last year, and that number is expected to increase.

Though we recognize that the funding used to offer free meals to all children was only intended as a pandemic-related expenditure — one that would cover the costs of meals for children whose parents may have surprisingly found themselves out of work — we feel no child should ever be harassed for lunch money.

As this provision goes away, we hope area school districts might consider the positive that came out of that COVID-19 related change. Specifically, no child was hungry.

It’s a sad fact that in our modern world of mutating illnesses and price increases, more and more children are going hungry when they aren’t at school. It’s become an issue such that we can no longer make assumptions about their home lives. Incomes that used to maintain a healthy level of comfort can now barely make ends meet.

There comes a point in the day-to-day running of a school where districts have to remember students’ well-being ahead of any academic concerns, and Butler is doing just that.

It’s not a child’s job to worry about where their next meal is coming from, nor should it ever be their job. We take that responsibility whenever we decide to have children. Unfortunately, most of us are victims to the highs and lows of an ever-changing economy.

There is absolutely no shame in doing everything possible to feed your child. Everyone should follow Butler’s example. Check in with fellow parents and donate to the program if it’s feasible for you. Now more than ever, we have to come together to care for our youths.

To donate food or money to the Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program, email Thomas at kimberly_thomas@butler.k12.pa.us.

— CM