School lunch lady fired after providing lunches for kids who couldn't afford it

[Kimbo]

It's a sad day when in a Christian country makes it hard for a child to be able to get a meal.

Della Curry, a cafeteria worker in an elementary school in a Denver suburb, has been fired for giving free food to students who didn't qualify for the federal free lunch program.

The mother of two admitted to KCNC-TV, which first reported the story, that she violated school policy by giving the free meals but said that she didn't want to see the children go hungry. She's hoping her case will change district policy.

"I had a first grader in front of me, crying, because she doesn't have enough money for lunch. Yes, I gave her lunch," Curry told the station. "I'll own that I broke the law. The law needs to be changed."

Curry said that many students' families can't afford to send them lunch even if they don't qualify for the free or reduced cost lunch program. She said sometimes students simply forget their lunch money and noted that on occasion she even went into her own pocket to pay for lunches.

Cherry Creek School District, where she had been employed, refused to comment to the station about her case, saying it was a personnel matter.

But after the report aired, the district posted a statement on the district web site about the policy without mentioning her by name. It said that students are given free lunches the first three times they forget their lunch money and after that they are given a cheese or if available turkey sandwich, along with a milk.

"No child is ever allowed to go without lunch," said the district's statement.

But Curry said that meal is not enough and leaves kids still hungry.

The district said the cost of the district's lunch program are not covered by the prices charged.

Curry hopes to speak to the Board of Education about her case and about changing the policy.

"If me getting fired for it is one way that we can try to change this, I'll take it in a heartbeat," she said.

She may have support from some parents at the meeting. Parent Darnell Hill told the station that Curry should be thanked for what she did.

"Do something different than fire her. She's trying to help," he said.

[Ipguy]

That's very sad

[Kimbo]

This hits close to home, as a kid I got meals reduce/free my dad was in the military and there were days I didn't have the money, The cafeteria ladies in all the different schools I went thru always let me keep the meal. To this day I thank them in my prayers.

[Marley]

same here was on school lunch program had a meal every day but they didnt call it that

[alphablondy]

do you think its possible it was due to a liability issue? school has food provided to the students. lady comes in gives food being a nice person, but if something happened that would make the school board open to a potential lawsuit by an irate parent for example.
I agree tho the policy should be revised and if someone in good conscience helping should not be fired. All staff should be aware of all the students food allergies, just in case.sound reasonable?

[Kimbo]

All lunches that given to students every day if the kid has an allergy it would be posted on the kids meal card. It sounds along the lines of money that is what the article states. But the lady used money from her own wallet. The rule should change but no child should go hungry in this country while people throw away food!!

[alphablondy]

your right i second the motion on that . lots of waste on this planet. it's 2015 there should be no empty belly anywhere on the planet.

[wickedjoker]

Man what a bummer for the kids and the lunch lady here is some lyrics to cheer everyone up!

Woke up in the morning
Put on my new plastic glove
Served some reheated salisbury steak
With a little slice of love
Got no clue what the chicken pot pie is made of
Just know everything's doing fine
Down here in Lunchlady Land
Well I wear this net on my head
'Cause my red hair is fallin' out
I wear these brown orthopedic shoes
'Cause I got a bad case of the gout
I know you want seconds on the corndogs
But there's no reason to shout
Everybody gets enough food
Down here in Lunchlady Land