Kentucky high school students 'denied school lunches because they can't pay'

  • Alex Melton, a 16-year-old junior at Henry County High School in Louisville, Kentucky wrote the heartfelt post
  • She wrote: 'If I see Henry County High School take ONE more kid's food from them because 'they don't have enough money', I'm going to flip!'
  • The post quickly gained at least 350 likes in a short space of time and even gained the attention of the school district

A high school student took to social media this week to express her outrage after witnessing other kids being denied lunch at school because they 'did not have enough money'.

Alex Melton, a 16-year-old junior at Henry County High School in Louisville, Kentucky wrote the heartfelt post on December 9 after she became angry at what she saw.

She wrote: 'If I see Henry County High School take ONE more kid's food from them because 'they don't have enough money', I'm going to flip!'

Alex Melton, a 16-year-old junior at Henry County High School in Louisville, Kentucky wrote the heartfelt post

Alex Melton, a 16-year-old junior at Henry County High School in Louisville, Kentucky wrote the heartfelt post

She wrote: 'If I see Henry County High School take ONE more kid's food from them because 'they don't have enough money', I'm going to flip!'

She wrote: 'If I see Henry County High School take ONE more kid's food from them because 'they don't have enough money', I'm going to flip!'

The post quickly gained 350 likes in a short space of time and caught the attention of the school district who were keen to enforce change.

Melton told WDRB: '[The cafeteria worker] told the students that if they didn't have enough money to cover their fines, then they didn't need to be in the line.

'She told them that they couldn't eat, and that they needed to put their food down. [A student] was really upset about it, and she sat her food down and she walked away, embarrassed.'

Melton's Facebook post led Henry County Schools Superintendent Tim Abrams to look into the issue. 

Abrams said he would investigate whether any student was actually denied food, but branded the situation 'unacceptable' and promised it would not happen again.

Melton's Facebook post quickly gained 350 likes in a short space of time and caught the attention of the school district who were keen to enforce change

Melton's Facebook post quickly gained 350 likes in a short space of time and caught the attention of the school district who were keen to enforce change

Melton's Facebook post led Henry County Schools Superintendent Tim Abrams to look into the issue

Melton's Facebook post led Henry County Schools Superintendent Tim Abrams to look into the issue

MELTON'S FACEBOOK POST IN FULL 

If I see Henry County High School take ONE more kids food from them because 'they don't have enough money', I'm going to flip!! Do you know if they eat at home? School lunch/breakfast may be the ONLY meal(s) they get all day!! 

Do you know if their family is having financial issues? Their family may have a financial issue to where they can't afford school lunch right now, or food for their own home so they're depending on school lunch, whether their account is negative or not!! 

Think before you take an action, and think of the possible things those kids are going through!! Not only is it NOT OKAY, but it isn't like the school is really losing that much money, for a $3 meal. 

It isn't right to make a kid starve, much less embarrass them in front of the whole lunch room when you yank their tray right out of their hands!! What is this world coming to? Lord have Mercy!!

Source: Alex Melton's Facebook 

Abrams told WDRB: 'In this case, I think we had an employee make a very poor decision and make a kid feel uncomfortable when they were going through the line. And that's unacceptable.'

According to Abrahams, there has been a long standing issue with unpaid student lunches, which add up to about $6,200.

Much of it has been impossible to recoup despite pleas to parents who owe money. 

About half of the students in the district receive free or reduced lunch, WDRB reports and 'pride' might prevent more parents from applying.

He said: 'Some school districts have implemented alternative meals for students. I never want a student to feel that they're receiving a lesser lunch because of their financial situation.' 

'We're not going to deny a kid food. We're gonna work with those parents and figure out a way to do this.'

Abrams told WDRB that the issue of unpaid lunches will likely be addressed with parents after the holiday season.

Elementary students in the district receive free breakfast and lunch through a community program. Middle and high school students are not currently eligible for that program. 

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