Thousands of Broward County children are now going home after a full school day with full stomachs, thanks to a new program that provides free, healthy suppers for schoolchildren.
More than 120 students at Oriole Elementary School in Lauderdale Lakes are eating a hot meal before leaving school for the day.
It consists of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, applesauce, bread and milk.
“When they're here and they eat this food, it's healthy,” said mom Rosalin Marte. “It's everything low-fat. There is no fat on it, and it's really good.”
"It could be fish, it could be chicken, it could be pasta," said Alan Wolnek, who runs the program under a federal grant that feeds more than 2,200 children in 32 Broward after-school programs. ”When children are well fed, have the proper nutrition, their marks are always better. Their attention span is better. They do better in school.”
During a time when governments and families are both struggling, students and their parents are grateful for the helping hand.
“Times are tough, so any help is good help. Anything that could help is appreciated,” said Tara Dolby as her fourth-grade daughter Vivian ate dinner.
The after-school meal program is scheduled to run for five years.
Supporters said they have money to feed more needy students in free and reduced-price lunch program schools.