ND Schools Facing Increasing Levels Of Meal Debt

(Bismarck, ND) — North Dakota schools are facing an increasing amount of meal debt as parents struggle with inflation. Pandemic-era programs providing free breakfast and lunch to all students nationwide ended in September, leaving schools go make collection calls on meal balances. Some school districts say they are seeing debt rates accumulate faster than before the pandemic. Nonprofit Feeding America says one in 12 children in North Dakota faces hunger and food insecurity.