Just Sayin': School food program funding in jeopardy

School food program funding in jeopardy

During the past two years, as families dealt with unimaginable challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had the assurance that their children would be fed through free school breakfast and lunch programs supported by the federal government. Federal assistance is about to expire June 30. Anyone who cares about the well-being of children needs to reach out to our state legislators and the governor. They need to make sure funding for the healthy school meals for all programs is included in the state budget. Some 2,000 schools and 800,000 students will lose access to free school meals if this isn't accomplished.

The state School Nutrition Association has asked our federal and state legislators for support. However, the expiration of waivers for feeding our children still looms. We believe establishing and funding a permanent statewide solution is essential. It would ensure students have access to a healthy breakfast and lunch each school day. Children should not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

Naim Walcott, Westhampton Beach

The writer is food service director at the Westhampton Beach school district.

The definition of a real American patriot

The first trial pertaining to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot concluded March 8 with Guy Wesley Reffitt, 49, of Wylie, Texas, convicted on all five felony counts. Reffitt believes he’s a patriot. He is not. He is a traitor. But another Reffitt can be held aloft as a true American hero. His son Jackson Reffitt, who secretly recorded his father on the day of the riot, shared that recording with federal agents and testified against his father. The elder Reffitt told his then-18-year-old son and16-year-old daughter that they would be "traitors" if they reported him to law enforcement. Jackson Reffitt is the one who's a real American patriot.

Robert LaRosa, Whitestone

Roadsides should shine like other states

I so agree with the reader who wrote about trash tossed along our roads ["I am disgusted with LI's roadside litter," Just Sayin', April 2]. Long Island roadways are such an embarrassment. When we travel through other states, we usually don’t see garbage littered by the highways. For what we pay in taxes, our roads should shine with cleanliness, but instead there’s garbage all over the side of the road. It doesn’t take much to keep a small bag in your car for garbage to dump at home. How can people even think of tossing litter out of their cars?

Camille Morselli, Islip Terrace