More Than a Meal: What Being A “Free Lunch Kid” Taught Me About Equity and Collective Care

November 19, 2025

By Muntaha Rahman, Youth Advisory Council member.

The following reflects Muntaha’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions.

As a child, I remember how comforting it felt to know that, regardless of whether I was able to pack a lunch from home, I always had one waiting for me at school. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that feeling of certainty reflected something much more than the assurance of my next meal – it represented the quiet reality of food insecurity. Even when my school district faced budget cuts towards the end of my elementary school and early middle school years, my community banded together, creating community food pantries and fundraising for local charities to ensure that all kids would have access to the food and care they needed.

Growing up as a “free lunch kid” in a low-income neighborhood and then attending college in Ann Arbor – where many of my peers came from much more privileged backgrounds than myself – I often heard people talk about hunger and food insecurity as if it were a distant issue. Food insecurity was constantly mentioned — in news, classrooms, and political discussions — but rarely did those conversations include the people most affected by it, treating them more as a “cause to be helped” rather than key participants to center in this discussion.

Food insecurity is present in all counties and affects 1 in 5 children [1]. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2023, 13.5% of American households were food insecure, meaning they were uncertain/unable to acquire sufficient food to meet the needs of all household members due to insufficient financial resources [2]. Hunger is not just something that you see on the news; it is embodied in your classmates, coworkers, community members, and maybe even yourself – living with the constant uncertainty of whether there will be food on the table tomorrow.

For many students, that uncertainty is also tangibly reflected in the classroom. In a research study conducted at a rural university in Oregon, good academic performance (GPA ≥ 3.1) was inversely associated with food insecurity [3]. Food insecurity also has various social effects; according to Watson et al., food-insecure students reported a lower sense of belonging on their college campuses [4], and according to Collier et al., a lower ability to be part of friend groups [5].

Despite how rampant this crisis is, it is not one without solutions and possible means of assistance. When we talk about solutions, it’s important to understand the difference between equal and equitable access to food. Equal access means that everyone gets the same resources, while equitable access means that people get the resources that they need, which may look different for everyone [6]. For example, someone living in a suburban neighborhood with multiple grocery stores nearby faces different barriers to access than someone living in a rural area or food desert, where the closest source of fresh produce might be miles away and inaccessible. Ensuring equitable access means recognizing those differences and providing additional support where it’s needed most.

Access to food – like access to housing and healthcare – should be viewed as a basic human right rather than a luxury. However, millions of Americans rely on food assistance programs to meet that need. In 2023, nearly 42 million people received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) [7]. The program provides monthly grocery benefits to low-income individuals and families [8]. In 2024, nearly 7 million mothers and children per month, and approximately 41% of all infants in the United States, were supported by the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program [9], which specifically helps pregnant women, infants, and children under 5 access nutritious foods and health support. Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is the card system used to deliver these benefits, functioning similarly to a debit card for approved purchases. Many students also depend on free or reduced-price school meals– a program that provides nearly 30 million school lunches [10]every school day.

These programs are extremely essential, but not perfect. In recent weeks, SNAP benefits have been cut across many states, even as prices and barriers to food accessibility continue to rise [11].For many families, these cuts can mean the difference between a balanced meal and an empty fridge. Food insecurity doesn’t just affect hunger; it affects health, growth, mental well-being, and academic performance. In school-based health settings, we see firsthand how a lack of proper nutrition can manifest into fatigue, poor concentration, anxiety, and even chronic health conditions [12]. If we want to build healthier communities, we must ensure that every student has access to the food they need to thrive.

Being nourished means more than just having food; it means having the security and dignity of knowing that your basic needs will be met. When I think back to my free lunch days of elementary, middle, and high school, I realize that those meals weren’t just about getting in my necessary calories for each day, but were also a symbol of care. They were a physical reminder that even when systems can fall short, communities can step up.

Food insecurity is not an individual failure, but a collective issue faced by all communities. When we treat nourishment and accessibility as a right rather than a privilege, we take a step toward a healthier and more equitable world.

If you want to help:

Donate to local food pantries, or host a food drive at your school
Start or support a community garden to increase access to fresh produce in your community
Volunteer at local food banks/pantries or soup kitchens near you; even a few hours can make a difference.

If you’re affected:You are not alone, and there’s no shame in seeking help. Many people, including those whom you may not expect, face food insecurity and rely on food resources. Food Gatherers and Feeding America both have maps to local food resources. Food Finder also shows the closest local food pantries.