Students in the Tolleson Elementary School District in Arizona are provided with a free hot meal five days a week while classes are in session to help get them through the day.
At Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School, cafeteria workers prepare meals for nearly 700 students, including steamed vegetables, spaghetti meat sauce, and bread rolls, as part of the program approved for TESD in 2022.
The Community Eligibility Provision program assists in offering free breakfast and lunch for all 2,845 students in TESD, where Linda Rubalcaba ensures every student is accounted for and properly fed.
Before the program, Rubalcaba faced challenges with meal debt but now sees free school meals as a relief and a way to support students’ health and well-being.
Dr. Lupita Hightower, Tolleson School District superintendent, views the program as a blessing for families struggling with food costs amid inflation.
Since the introduction of free lunches, students seem happier, and the cafeteria culture has improved, reflecting a positive shift in the school environment.
The expansion of the CEP program by the USDA in September 2023 will allow more school districts in high-need areas to participate, benefitting thousands of additional students.
At Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School, students are offered a variety of meal options, including lemon-infused water, salad bar, tamales for Christmas, and pozole, with some qualifying for free dinner and snacks after school.
