Mount Ida school administration’s new “Feed a Lion” program offers local individuals and businesses an opportunity to help students and their families who are struggling to pay for their lunches.
Elementary Principal Donna Whisenhunt explains that every year there are students that for whatever reason fall behind on paying for their lunches. When this happens the school contacts the parent or guardian to let them know. Most times a call is enough to get the lunches paid, but there are times families are unable to pay for the meals.
Whisenhunt states that students at Mount Ida will not go without a full lunch regardless of the status of their lunch charges. However, an overdue amount on lunch charges can prohibit students from participating in certain school activities. For example, seniors are unable to walk with their class if they owe lunch charges.
In the past school administration has reached out privately to local businesses and individuals to help in these hardship cases to allow a student to walk with their classmates. Whisenhunt said that the staff felt that they shouldn’t wait until a student is graduating to reach out to the community for help.
That’s where the “Feed a Lion” program comes in. Anyone who would like to help a student and their family with lunch charges can do so by contacting either of the campuses. You can select a student you would like to help, or you can make a donation and allow the school staff to choose the student it helps. This program will help provide relief to students of all ages.
If you would like to participate in the “Feed a Lion” program please contact Bobby Barrett Elementary School at (870) 867-2661, or the High School campus at (870) 867-2771.
