Currently, there is uncertainty about the free meals program in Michigan public schools, including Chelsea High School. As no actions have been taken by the State of Michigan, funding for this program has expired, though Chelsea School District is offering meals free of charge for all through Friday, October 3rd. This leaves many, especially students themselves, unsure about the future of the program. This has led to emotions ranging from confusion to frustration.

“It’s just it’s kind of, I think, a bit of an inconvenience for a lot of the students who regularly get lunches, who maybe don’t have time or resources to pack a lunch, or maybe don’t have time to eat breakfast in the morning due to extracurriculars,” Ray Houle (‘27) said. “I think it will be a big inconvenience, but I also don’t know if there’s much we can really do about it.”

There are many reasons why some students would rather bring their own food to school, like preferring to eat their own food rather than getting meals from school. Not everyone wants to bring their own food, however.

“I don’t like packing a lunch, and the school lunches are affordable, and they’re good, in my opinion,” Houle said. “I get the school lunch every day, and sometimes I get breakfast, and they have a lot of options.”

While free meals might just seem convenient for many, it is a vital program for those who rely on it. Those who do rely on it could see an impact if the program were to end.

“It won’t really impact me, but I know that it will impact other people in the school,” Houle said.

Even though the end of the program would have such a huge impact, not all have even heard about the fact that it might happen; while some have heard about it, others haven’t.

“The TVs around the school are super underutilized,” junior Connor Dennis said. “I mean that could be a good way to spread the word.”

There are many different ways some students have heard about the possibility of the program ending. While some have heard the news via word of mouth, others have heard about it through less conventional means of getting news.

“[I heard about it though] TikTok, I think,” Dennis said.

All in all, the uncertainty of this significant program leaves students with varying feelings, with some students expressing frustration.

“I think it’s stupid that free lunches are getting discontinued,” Dennis said.