For students throughout Jeff Davis Parish, classes have almost begun.
This means parents and students are preparing for the 2024-2025 school year, which begins on Friday.
Nutrition experts are working to improve the Free Child Nutrition Program, an offering that provides free breakfast and lunch at school to children in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Tina Coleman, director of the Jeff Davis Parish Child Nutrition Program, said the program is needed.
“Eighty-seven percent of our students qualify for free meals,” Coleman said. “Some students are experiencing homelessness, running away from home, food stamps (and more).”
That’s why parents like Carl Wilson believe the free nutrition program is critical to students’ growth and development.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Wilson said. “At least we don’t have to go through the hassle of eating three meals a day. You get two free meals and save the parents money, and the kids get to save money too.”
Wilson said his youngest son attends Jennings High School and knows firsthand how expensive groceries are.
“When I was little, we got hot tamales and Mike and Ike’s and stuff like that for 25 cents,” Wilson said. “Today you pay 50, 60 cents… (Sometimes) almost a dollar for just a little box of candy… And that’s just candy. We’re not talking about the price of food, meat, drinks, water and so on.”
