PAID ADVERTISEMENT Thank You, Dan Wolgamott, For Supporting Free School Meals! I'm the head cook at McKinley Alternative Learning Center in Saint Cloud and a union member with SEIU Local 284. Every Monday it breaks my heart to see kids show up to school so hungry because they didn't get enough to eat at home over the weekend. I have five kids myself, so I know how expensive it can be. At one point, all of my kids were in school at the same time and keeping them all fed certainly added up. Before universal free meals we fed 60-80 students a day. I would see lots of kids sitting in the cafeteria not eating. Some lied and said they weren't hungry, and some told the truth that they didn't have the money for a meal, that their parents had asked them not to eat. Now we feed 110 kids a day. Everyone who wants to eat gets to eat. Growing up where I did, we had different colored lunch tickets for free and reduced-price lunch kids. Almost everyone had blue tickets, but I was on free and reduced lunch, so mine was bright red. Every day at lunch my ticket announced to the other kids that I was different, which is the last thing I wanted at that age. I want to take this opportunity to thank Dan Wolgamott, Tim Walz, and all the Democrats for passing universal free school meals. Every student, regardless of their parents' financial situation, gets breakfast and lunch at school. No shame. No meal debt. Just the nourishment they need to grow, learn, and thrive. Thank you! Kristi Scott, Head Cook at McKinley Alternative Learning Center. Find all the candidates on your ballot endorsed by public school staff at voteseiumn.org This is an independent expenditure prepared and paid for by Suburban School Emp Local 284 Pol Act Fund, 450 Southview Blvd., South St Paul, MN 55075. It is not coordinated with or approved by any candidate nor is any candidate responsible for it. PAID ADVERTISEMENT Thank You , Dan Wolgamott , For Supporting Free School Meals ! I'm the head cook at McKinley Alternative Learning Center in Saint Cloud and a union member with SEIU Local 284. Every Monday it breaks my heart to see kids show up to school so hungry because they didn't get enough to eat at home over the weekend . I have five kids myself , so I know how expensive it can be . At one point , all of my kids were in school at the same time and keeping them all fed certainly added up . Before universal free meals we fed 60-80 students a day . I would see lots of kids sitting in the cafeteria not eating . Some lied and said they weren't hungry , and some told the truth that they didn't have the money for a meal , that their parents had asked them not to eat . Now we feed 110 kids a day . Everyone who wants to eat gets to eat . Growing up where I did , we had different colored lunch tickets for free and reduced - price lunch kids . Almost everyone had blue tickets , but I was on free and reduced lunch , so mine was bright red . Every day at lunch my ticket announced to the other kids that I was different , which is the last thing I wanted at that age . I want to take this opportunity to thank Dan Wolgamott , Tim Walz , and all the Democrats for passing universal free school meals . Every student , regardless of their parents ' financial situation , gets breakfast and lunch at school . No shame . No meal debt . Just the nourishment they need to grow , learn , and thrive . Thank you ! Kristi Scott , Head Cook at McKinley Alternative Learning Center . Find all the candidates on your ballot endorsed by public school staff at voteseiumn.org This is an independent expenditure prepared and paid for by Suburban School Emp Local 284 Pol Act Fund , 450 Southview Blvd. , South St Paul , MN 55075. It is not coordinated with or approved by any candidate nor is any candidate responsible for it .