Most students in St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools won’t have to worry about being hungry while trying to gain an education during the 2016-17 academic year.

The School District is expanding its involvement in National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, specifically through the Community Eligibility Provision.

This means all enrolled students in eight public schools in St. John Parish are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to their household each day of the 2016-17 school year.

District administrators stressed no action is required by parents to take advantage of this program. All children can participate in the meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

Participating schools include West St. John Elementary School, East St. John Elementary School, Fifth Ward Elementary School, Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School, Emily C. Watkins Elementary, LaPlace Elementary School, St. John Child Development Center and Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School.

Anyone seeking more information on the program is asked to speak with Terry C. Charles with the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board by calling 985-536-1106, ext. 8119, 8116 or 8129. He can be reached by email at tcharles@stjohn.k12.la.us.

Just about everyone in the United States is for feeding hungry children, but this effort does allow some parents receiving taxpayer benefits through a Louisiana Purchase Card to double dip on support programs designed to fund a portion of their food budgets.

However, a child living in this country should never be denied a meal because their caretakers aren’t on the ball financially. We all suffer — in the short term and long term — when a local child goes hungry.

Efforts to prevent such benefit our community.