IRMO, S.C. — Lexington Richland 5 has extended snack time past Kindergarten and first grade for students across the district.
In June the school board, including chairwoman Jan Hammond, approved $1.3 million from their general fund to go toward giving students a snack every day.
"I think it's a very smart way to reach kids without making a deal about it. They don't have to apply for the free or reduced lunch program to be a part of it. This way there's snacks every day for every kid," Hammond stated.
Superintendent, Dr. Akil Ross clarified that students get a snack and a drink every day, and that the program is open to all students no matter their financial status. The program starts in 3K and goes all the way up to the Adult Education program.
"We wanted to make sure that every student regardless of their ability to pay, that when they left, that they never left hungry," Ross explained.
Tayah Anderson is a student at Dutch Fork High School and has seen the snack program implemented. She says it has been nice to have the option of extra food, and that she hopes the program continues in the following years.
"I think it's really nice," Anderson said. "There are kids who don't get to eat at home, because sometimes they might not have time to pack a lunch, or they just might not have the money for food so it's nice that the schools are giving them something."
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The school board says they plan to look at how the program performed across the district at the end of this school year.
Each school within the district is taking on snack differently, and all have it at different times a day. If you have questions about snack at a particular school, the district encourages parents and guardians to reach out to the school directly.