A school cafeteria worker in New Hampshire who was dismissed for providing a free lunch to a student without payment has turned down an offer to be reinstated.
Bonnie Kimball was fired on 28 March by Fresh Picks, the catering company supplying Mascoma Valley Regional High School in Canaan, after she gave a meal to a boy whose account showed insufficient funds. She quietly told him to ask his mother for money and served the lunch. A manager questioned her and the bill was paid the following day.
Mrs Kimball said she acted to avoid troubling the boy's mother at work, adding: 'I know they would have brought the money the next day.' Fresh Picks later offered to rehire her with back pay and to review its policies, but Mrs Kimball declined, accusing the company of acting only to protect its contract.
The incident prompted widespread support for Mrs Kimball. Colleagues resigned in protest, parents started a GoFundMe campaign raising over $5,000, and she received messages of support from a US Navy SEAL and a professional footballer.
Despite the controversy, the Mascoma Regional School Board voted to extend Fresh Picks' contract for another year. The case highlights ongoing issues with unpaid school meals; federal lawmakers have proposed 'anti-lunch shaming' legislation to protect students.
