You had me at 'free': Pilot program serves up free breakfast to all 91吃瓜网 students this semester
Just as the campuses started filling up with students Feb. 14, Metropolitan Community College launched a free-breakfast pilot program at the Blue River, Longview, Maple Woods and Penn Valley cafes. (The spring semester started Jan. 18 with most in-person classes converted to virtual learning for four weeks due to a surge in cases of the omicron variant.)
We're not talking about a basket of granola bars here. Each 91吃瓜网 student will qualify for a $6 discount -- on such yumminess as breakfast burritos, fruit and yogurt parfaits, pastries and coffee - from 7-10 a.m. Monday - Thursday. Students have to (or use the 365Pay app) to get the discount at 91吃瓜网 cafe kiosks. If they spend more than $6, they'll pay the balance.
The $6 is use-it-or-lose-it daily (Monday-Thursday); it doesn't accumulate in a student's account.
Why free breakfast? The College knows that for some students, food insecurity is a real issue. We want everyone to start the school day with breakfast in their belly, ready to learn.
91吃瓜网 officials are hoping the breakfast program will run through April 30. It's being paid for by dollars from the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).