Detroit sues Census Bureau, alleging its housing counts underestimate city's population

Michigan schools serve millions fewer meals in pandemic, with financial consequences

Lily Altavena
Detroit Free Press

Detroit Public Schools Community District has served about 2.2 million meals to students this school year. 

Last school year, the district served 9.6 million.

The numbers from other large districts in Michigan are similar: Grand Rapids has served 863,169 meals so far this year, compared with 2.8 million last school year. Lansing Public Schools has served 1.2 million meals, compared with 2.6 million in the 2018-19 school year, according to the latest data provided by the district.

Statewide and nationally, participation in the national school lunch and breakfast programs has plummeted due to the pandemic. Districts, including Detroit, say the decline in meals served coincides with less in-person school. While some families have picked up grab-and-go meals offered since the start of the pandemic, the numbers show many are not turning to schools for meals.

Health and Wellness Coordinator Shaquana Suggs serves lunch to students in the Synchronous Learning hub at Downtown Boxing Gym on April 30, 2021. The number of meals schools have served has significantly dropped at major school districts across the state. Schools attribute this to the drop in students attending school in-person, meaning families are also not utilizing the grab-and-go option as much as anticipated. Other organizations are also stepping in to feed kids, like the Downtown Boxing Gym that feeds kids breakfast, lunch and snacks.

That doesn't mean there are fewer hungry kids, education leaders say. Instead, families may be relying on other organizations like local food pantries or, more troublingly, could be going hungry. 

Fewer meals served also means less money for schools, leaving shortfalls in school food service budgets, imperiling jobs.  

"Our biggest message is: Take the meals," Diane Golzynski, president of the Michigan School Nutrition Association, said. "Go find your local school district and take the meals because it not only helps that food service program stay viable, but it helps all those workers keep their jobs." 

Taking a financial hit 

In normal years, students have to meet income requirements to be eligible for free or reduced lunch. But at the beginning of the pandemic, the USDA made lunch free for all students, and has since extended that policy through the 2021-22 school year.

According to the most recent data from the USDA, 778,259 Michigan children participated in the National School Lunch Program in January, down from 810,124 in January 2020.

The declines are particularly steep in districts like Detroit, where students spent most of this school year learning remotely. Chrystal Wilson, a spokesperson for the district, wrote in an email that while the district offered a grab-and-go option, a smaller portion of students learning online took advantage than if they were learning face-to-face.

Downtown Boxing Gym serves as a Synchronous Learning hub for Detroit students and also provides breakfast and lunch, here on Friday. The number of meals schools have served has significantly dropped at major school districts across the state. Schools attribute this to the drop in students attending school in-person, meaning families are also not utilizing the grab-and-go option as much as anticipated. Other organizations, like the Downtown Boxing Gym, are also stepping up to feed kids.

The decline has translated into a significant drop in funding for that program from the federal government to Detroit, the state's largest district. The district had anticipated receiving $3.4 million in January 2021 from the federal government for food services, according to district budget documents. Instead, it took in $1.1 million.

Federal money distributed as part of a pandemic relief plan will help offset shortfalls like this one, particularly for big districts like Detroit, which will get about $1.2 billion in aid. Some of the money, however, is restricted and can't be spent to cover food service worker salaries.

The USDA reimburses schools $3.51 for every meal served through the lunch program and $1.89 for every breakfast served.

"When they don't have the funding coming in, then that really hurts the bottom line of their food service program," Golzynski said. 

She said one school food service director in southwest Michigan laid off every single person in the department because of budget woes, and is now preparing and serving every school meal alone.

Nonprofits and food pantries chip in 

The Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit serves about 475 meals every week, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. The nonprofit, founded in 2007, in the Islandview neighborhood has long served as a place for young people to come and participate in programming that encourages them to excel academically and emotionally.

Health and Wellness Coordinator Shaquana Suggs serves lunch to students in the Synchronous Learning program at Downtown Boxing Gym on Friday. The number of meals schools have served has significantly dropped at major school districts across the state. Schools attribute this to the drop in students attending school in-person, meaning families are also not utilizing the grab-and-go option as much as anticipated. Other organizations are also stepping in to feed kids, like the Downtown Boxing Gym, which feeds kids breakfast, lunch and snacks.

The organization switched from an afterschool program to a full-day program so students could have a place to go. Students attend virtual school from Downtown Boxing Gym, using its internet access, with a full-time academic staff standing by, and students eat meals there, too. 

More:Detroit school district offers $500 incentive for teachers, staff to get vaccinated

More:Hybrid school isn't working, some Michigan parents, teachers say. Here's why.

Kristin Lusk, associate director of academics, said the organization found parents needed help providing meals through the pandemic. 

"A lot of parents have had to make some really hard choices through the pandemic because they've had to balance everything from their careers to major life choices — some of them having health issues," she said. "So it takes a lot of burden off of their plate." 

Kenyaa Cain, 10, of Detroit goes to Ronald Brown Academy and attends the Synchronous Learning hub at Downtown Boxing Gym, where he receives chicken pita salad for lunch on Friday. The number of meals schools have served has significantly dropped at major school districts across the state. Schools attribute this to the drop in students attending school in-person, meaning families are also not utilizing the grab-and-go option as much as anticipated. Other organizations are also stepping in to feed kids, like the Downtown Boxing Gym, which feeds kids breakfast, lunch and snacks.

Golzynski said local food banks, too, have served more families in Michigan through the pandemic, likely filling the need schools usually fill with the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. 

But she added that schools are still serving grab-and-go meals across the state to any family in need. To find a pickup location, go to michigan.gov/meetupeatup

Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com or follow her on Twitter @LilyAlta.

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