Opinion: Parent of student urges state lawmakers not to cut free school lunch program

Re “Much-needed free school meals program must be preserved by state government” ( April 15 ): As a parent of a Poway High School student, I wholeheartedly support the California state government’s free school meals program for our students. This program has taken stress off of my and many other parents’ backs. It has provided essential nutrition to children, but also helped families struggling to provide this on their own. No child should have to worry about where their next meal will come from, and this program ensures that our kids have access to healthy food during the school day.

Preserving the free school meals program is not just a matter of convenience; it is a matter of social responsibility. By ensuring that all students have access to nutritious meals, we are investing in their health, well-being and academic success. As a concerned parent, l urge our state government to continue supporting this program for the benefit of our children, our teachers and our community.

— Olivia Digenan, Poway

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune .