08/06/2026
Back in the 1900s, "Back to School" meant a new Trapper Keeper to me.
But now, for millions of hungry kids, it means knowing they’ll eat again.
Because when the school closed for summer, their hunger didn’t.
Summer meal programs reach only about 16 children for every 100 who received free or reduced-price school lunches.
I’ve pastored at churches where one child returned from an overseas vacation while another returned from a summer of hunger.
This is personal.
I've seen it.
I've lived it.
About twelve years ago, an unexpected job loss drained our family’s savings. We lost nearly everything.
I drove Uber at 1 a.m. so I could earn enough to buy breakfast before my kids woke up.
It wasn’t a “survive the week” financial situation.
It was "survive today."
I never left the grocery store with more than a small hand cart could hold.
I quietly skipped meals to make sure my wife and kids had enough.
Nobody knew.
Even church friends.
I was ashamed.
With my pride crushed into a fine powder, I applied for school lunch assistance for my two kids, as our school lunch accounts were empty.
My daughter was once handed what her classmates called “the poor kid’s lunch”:
Dried out bread and a slice of cheese.
It gave her enough food to get through lunch — yet made sure every child around her knew her family was struggling.
That wound has never left me.
My eyes are tearing as I type this.
A child should never be used as a collection notice.
The debt may belong to adults and systems — but the shame never belongs to the child.
Recently here in Arizona, a bill was introduced that would have stopped schools from shaming children or serving them a different meal because of unpaid fees.
It died in committee without a vote.
More than 14 million children in the United States live in food-insecure households.
We can debate budgets.
But hungry children cannot eat our talking points.
And if our Christianity can explain away their hunger or justify their humiliation, it has explained away the Jesus who said:
“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.” (Matthew 25:35)
So call your school district.
Ask how your district handles unpaid meal balances — and whether you can quietly clear a child’s debt, contribute to a hardship fund, or support summer and weekend food programs.
Churches, adopt a school and help, but do it quietly. Compassion does not need your logo printed on the sandwich.
Feed the child first.
Protect their dignity always.
We can argue about everything else after lunch.
