Boy Denied School Lunch On His Birthday Because Of $9 Lunch Debt

Many of these children rely on these programs to provide a nutritious meal.

Parents in one Pennsylvania school district were told their children would be placed in foster care if their lunch debts weren't paid.

The issue has been growing across the nation as more stories like these come out.

Instead, the school provides a lower quality substitute to these children.

Jefferson Sharpnack ordered cheesy breadsticks and sauce from his school cafeteria on August 30, which also happened to be his birthday.

Jefferson was instead given cheese and a slice of bread to eat for lunch.

"He gets off the bus and he says, Grandma! Worst birthday ever!" said Diane Bailey, Jefferson's grandmother who currently has temporary custody of him.

She said officials told her she could write a check for any unpaid balances until their application was completed.

“He was bullied. He was bullied by the school officials. He had his lunch removed from his tray at the age of 9,” she said.

"You can’t re-serve it. You’re going to throw it away and not feed the child? That doesn’t make sense to me," she said.

They quickly made a change to their policy that would allow all students to receive their standard lunch, regardless of their account balance.

"We are sensitive to the financial hardship families incur and challenges presented due to the cost of school breakfast and lunches," said Superintendent Jeff Miller.

"As it relates specifically to our policy, students receive multiple means of communication when their accounts become negative. Currently students who are $15 or more in debt are provided a lunch that includes fruit, vegetables, and either a cheese quesadilla or cheese sandwich,” they said.

It's still unfortunate that Jefferson had to go through this.

He was treated to dinner at his favorite restaurant and cupcakes.