REDMOND, OR -- Beginning next month, all students in the Redmond School District and at Redmond Proficiency Academy will have access to free breakfast and lunch, thanks to a federal program. "There are so many benefits to doing this. Number one: we can feed each and every student that walks in our door," says MaryLou Chavira, the district's food program coordinator, "Sometimes the school meals are all they're going to get." She believes it will also improve the learning atmosphere, "Have you ever done something and you are hungry and you're angry or you can't concentrate, as an adult. And we can regulate ourselves, 'I know I'm hungry but I've got to get through this; press on.' But what about a third grader or an eleventh grader?"

The new program will be available to an estimated 8,000 students. Chavira tells KBND News not charging every child for a meal also streamlines the cafeteria line. "When you have 150 students coming through to get breakfast and they've got to remember their lunch card, in some schools, or remember their student ID number to punch it into the point of sale. You're trying to get them through in about 20 minutes and sometimes that's extremely difficult." She says it will benefit students and cafeteria staff, "More time to love on those kids as they come through that line, and send them off to class. Instead of, 'what was your number? What did you say? Can you spell that?' because you can't understand them sometimes."

Kids can't just grab anything, "One of the things they have to take is a fruit or a vegetable. They have to take three components at lunch time." The meal also includes one milk. Students who want just one item or something extra can still use their meal account for an additional purchase, and kids who prefer to bring a sack lunch from home can also continue.