Frank Sargent is continuing his mission to attack child hunger “in small bites.”
When he launched the Food for Learning program in January 2004, the retired doctor raised almost $5,000 for children whose families struggled to cover the 40-cent cost of their reduced-price lunches.
The donations benefited students at 39 schools in Englewood, Sheridan, Littleton, Baca County and Del Norte.
This year, as state figures show an increase in the number of Colorado public school students receiving free or reduced-price lunches, Sargent is in the middle of an even more ambitious campaign.
His goal is to raise $50,000 – a sum he says will assist struggling families in 500 of Colorado’s 1,700 public schools. At least 10 percent of the students in those schools qualify for reduced-price lunches.
So far, he has raised $37,000 – mostly donations from the Health One Alliance, Englewood Rotary and Walter Koelbel family.
“We shouldn’t put off taking care of hungry children,” Sargent said. “Hungry children can’t wait.”
In 2003, 30.7 percent of Colorado students received free or reduced-price lunches. That jumped to 32.1 percent last year, according to the Colorado Department of Education.
To qualify for a reduced- price lunch, a student must come from a family whose income is at or below 185 percent of national poverty guidelines, said Dan McMillan, director of the department’s Nutrition and Transportation office. That translates to an income of $34,873 or less for a family of four.
For some families, particularly those with several children, even 40 cents can be difficult to afford every day, food service managers say.
“I have one family (whose) income is just about $100 over the free (lunch) limit,” said Melissa Schwinn, food service director for the Wray School District, where half the students get free or reduced-price lunches. “It’s really kind of borderline.”
Students who don’t have the money are given a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with milk and fruit instead of a hot meal, such as lasagna or tacos, Schwinn said. Her district received $400 from the Food for Learning Fund, which benefited 20 families, she added.
Kids can be refused a meal if they don’t have cash in hand, McMillan said.
“Most elect not to,” he said. “In many cases it’s a peanut butter sandwich and a milk.”
Contributions to Food for Learning can be sent to 3370 S. Irving St., Englewood, CO 80110. Make checks payable to Inter-Faith Community Services, attention Maria Pearson, community relations coordinator.
Staff writer Karen Rouse can be reached at 303-820-1684 or krouse@denverpost.com.
