-
Early European Experience
A combined program of teaching and feeding hungry, vagrant children began in Munich, Germany by Benjamin Thompson. -
Early programs in the United States
Beginning with sporadice food services undertaken by private societies and associations interested in child welfare and education, The Children's Aid Society of New York initiated a program serving meals to students attending vocational school. -
Germany
Needy children were provided with free text books, clothing, and food by The Philanthropic School Society in Hamburg. -
Philadelphia
The Starr Center Association began serving penny lunches in one school, and later expanded the service to another. Soon a lunch committee was established, and lunches were extended to nine schools in the city. -
Other European Cities
By the early 1900's, school feeding had spread throughout most of the European countries. -
Holland
By royal decree, Holland authorized municipalities to supply food and clothing to public or private school children who were unable to go to school regularly because of the lack of these items. -
Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin began its efforts at meeting the need when the Women's School Alliance of Wisconsin began furnishing lunches to children in three centers located in areas where both parents were working and the greatest need was evident. -
England
The Provision of Meals Act was the culmination of the efforts of 365 private, charitable organizations in attempting to provide meals at school for needy children. -
School Feeding Supported
The Bitter Cry of the Children was published. It brought about awareness of poverty in the United States. -
Switzerland
Lunches were provided to about 8 percent of the primary school children by private societies. The program grew rapidly. -
New York
Superintendent, Dr. William H. Maxwell, made a special plea in his report to the Board of Education for children to be able to buy nourishing food at a cost price. -
Cleveland
Elementary school lunch service began in Cleaveland, Ohio, when the Cleveland Federation of Women's Clubs began serving breakfasts to 19 children at the Eagle School. -
Boston
An experimental program for elementary schools began. Home Economics classes prepared a mid morning lunch three days per week. Students ate at their desks, as there were no luch rooms available. -
Early Federal Aid
The earliest Federal Aid came from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, when it granted loans to several towns in southwestern Missouri to cover the cost of labor employed in preparing and serving school lunches. -
State Legislation and Programs
15 states had passed laws specifically authorizing local school boards to operate lunchrooms. -
School Milk Programs
Federal assistance in providing milk for school children took place. -
National School Lunch Act
Legislation was introduced to give the program a permanent status and to authorize the necessary appropriations for it. -
Child Nutrition Act
Congress strengthened and expanded the School Lunch Program efforts. -
Public Concern
Reasons for non-participation in the program were numerous, but in low-income areas and large urban centers low participation was particularly evident. One reason was that lunch rooms were not available, and children still went home everyday at lunch time. -
Free and Reduced Price Lunches
The Secretary issued the income poverty guidelines, stating the family size and applicable income for 48 states. Under the first income poverty guidelines, for example, children from a family of four with a family income of $3,720 or less annually would be eligible for free or reduced price lunches at participating schools.