QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) -
Quincy Public Schools feeds an average of 2,000 students each morning. For some students, that may be the only meal they've eaten since lunch the previous day.
Officials with QPS said the cost of breakfast at school for an entire week is less than what it would cost a family to purchase a gallon of milk and a box of cereal.
(Click here to find out if your child would be eligible for free or reduced lunch.)
First grade teacher Jen Drew said you can always tell when a student hasn't eaten breakfast.
"A lot of times you can tell because they'll complain that their stomach hurts or they have a headache and we know that they haven't eaten probably," said Drew.
Ellington Elementary makes sure that students who need it are able to eat breakfast at school. They serve about 100 kids every day before school.
Though all students at Ellington Elementary can get breakfast in the morning, for the free and reduce meal students, it may be school breakfast or no breakfast.
"Especially the low income students, because they may not be able to afford breakfast at home," added Drew.
Cafeteria Coordinator Ines Kelley says that the breakfast program has gotten more popular since it started.
"We have approximately 75 percent that eat free or reduced for breakfast. We've been it for several years now, but our count has gotten larger as years go by," said Kelley.
In the classroom, Drew notices the difference in performance for students who have eaten, versus those who have not.
"It's really important for their brains. Students who haven't eaten will be very lethargic, they'll lay around all day and not want to do their work," she said.
"Studies have proven that if they eat breakfast they are more apt to think better, their more clear headed and they can concentrate better," added Kelley.
There is no way to tell if a student is a part of the free and reduced meal program. If you'd like to find out if your family qualifies for free or reduced school meals, you can find more information here.
