Wenatchee High School and most public schools in Washington play an integral role in providing students with free and reduced lunches and breakfasts every school day. These programs ensure that thousands of students across the state receive healthy lunches and breakfasts for a low or no cost at all.

The importance of this cannot be understated, according to Wenatchee High School Family Advocate Yadira Luna. “For a lot of students, this is their only meal during the day,” Luna said. She went on to add that many students go without dinner most days.

Luna also detailed how impactful meals are to one’s classroom abilities. This claim is backed by countless studies on how food affects learning. A 2008 UCLA study found that healthy food improves memory, learning, as well as fighting a wide array of mental disorders such as depression.

The free and reduced lunch and breakfast programs supply students with a reliable source of meals, serving the purpose of keeping kids satisfied and happy throughout the day, in addition to bettering their performance in the classroom at a low cost. They are a vital contributor to the success and wellbeing of Wenatchee’s student body, Luna said.

For more information or how to apply for the free and reduced lunch and breakfast programs visit: http://www.k12.wa.us/ChildNutrition/Programs/NSLBP/default.aspx