Time to get really mad!!

Like Jim Sullivan and Paul Green, fellow FOHOBOHists, I"m mad as hell- I heard a brief comment on CNN this morning that was about opponents of the new stimulus package, complaining that it was a terrible "giveaway" because it includes billions of dollars for schools.

Schools! That means some of the money in that package may benefit the nation's youth - the future of our country. Wow - isn't that terrible!

School foodservice in many schools across the U.S. deal every day with equipment that dates back as much as 30 or 40 years. One school foodservice operator told me they discontinued salad bars because their equipment could not assure them the level of safety they felt was necessary.

The new package has language that would provide $100 million for foodservice equipment in schools, with the funds administered at the state level and targeting those schools with 50% free or reduced meal students. In other words, our neediest school systems would receive long needed help in producing safe, healthy, well prepared food for our children and grandchildren and our nation's future citizens. Isn't that bad news!

I find it very difficult and totally abhorrent when I hear remarks like this - "it's a giveaway" - Color me crazy but it's time to stand up and say this is WRONG - it's not a giveaway - it's a much needed update that's long overdue.

Tags: Foodservice, School, equipment, federal, foodservice, grants, lunch, school

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Comment by Dwight Aubert on February 16, 2009 at 10:12am: Sure they may say 100,000,000 to our schools But what schools will actualy benefit from it ? I live in the sunshine state You can drive by any lotto bilboard and see the quote over 1 billion in education dollars
however turn on the local news only to hear cut backs and layoffs ,
what gives ?
Until we see New equiptment in our schools and better menus for our kids, then and only then will I believe it. A lot of this money is going to be wasted trust me on that one . I am not from the show me state , but prove me wrong

Comment by susan holaday on February 16, 2009 at 9:52am: I don't blame the commentator - they were quoting "opponents of the bill"

Comment by Michael Albert on February 16, 2009 at 9:44am: You go, Susan.
As a parent of 2 kids now in public schools, and as a person of relatively sound mind, I couldn't not agree more. The good thing is the criticism if of a package that will soon be rolled out. So it will happen, better later than never at all. Food and love are the essential ingredients to sustain children's lives.

Maybe the commenter on CNN would change her/his tune if children were voters?