SCHOOL FOOD

EVERY CHILD NEEDS A HOT LUNCH

Child poverty has reached a historically new dimension in the Federal Republic. According to a study by the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband (DPWV), the introduction of Hartz IV at the beginning of 2008 caused the number of children affected by poverty to rise to a record 1.7 million...

The Facts of Child Poverty (Children Report 2007): 14% of all children are officially classified as poor. Since the introduction of this ALG 2, the number of children dependent on social assistance or social benefits has doubled to more than 2.5 million. Today every 6th child under the age of 7 is dependent on social assistance, in 1965 it was only every 75th child. Children from immigrant families are particularly affected. The consequences are not only financial, but also health-related. Every third child is in need of therapy when they start school. It is estimated that 5.9 million children live in households with a parent's annual income of up to 15,300 euros. That is about 1/3 of all children entitled to child benefit.

If no employable member of the household in a household with children is employed, the risk of poverty in the family is 48%. If one family member works full-time, the risk drops to 8%, and if there are two workers, it drops to 4% (3rd Federal Government Report on Poverty and Wealth, 2008).

Quite a number of these poverty-stricken children do not get the money from their parents to buy a hot lunch at school. ProKids-VS recognized the need and began to fund school meals for needy children. The situation has eased as part of the participation package that has since been introduced. Nevertheless, there are still many children who depend on the lunch subsidy from our foundation.

The ProKids Foundation can help! Further information is available from FJS Ms. Mauthe at

Tel. 07721 / 82-2159 or by email to jbe@villingen-schwenningen.de.

After approval, we will cover the costs except for a personal contribution of 1 euro per meal. Don't hesitate.