Family Worries About Money, As Free School Lunches End

The U.S. Congress passed the “Keep Kids Fed Act,” which returns the school lunch program to an income-based system. The act passed just days before the universal free lunch program was scheduled to end June 30.<br /><br />VanLear was shocked and panicked to hear the news.<br /><br />“Crap, I got to reach out [and] figure out the budget,” she said.<br /><br />Who qualifies?<br /><br />Penny VanLear works two jobs. One at H&R Block where she’s been for 12 years. The other at the City of Lincoln’s Treasury office. <br /><br />VanLear said they didn’t have to worry about paying for lunches before the pandemic.<br /><br />“We were still qualifying for free at that point, with the four kids,” VanLear said. <br /><br />Adam, 19, has since graduated and goes to Southeast Community College in Lincoln. <br /><br />Now with three dependents instead of four, VanLear is put into a different income bracket. She fears her three kids won’t qualify for free lunches.