Starr County residents received welcome news on Tuesday, with nearly $16.5 million in federal aid heading their way.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, visited Roma High School and Rio Grande City to announce monies that will cover the costs of meals that thousands of children received for free last year, as well as new funds to help older students attend college.
About $9.9 million will be used to reimburse the cost of summer meals for 3,500 children who benefited from the program last year. Of that, about $6.2 million was spent on lunches and $3.6 spent on breakfast through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, respectively.
“The pandemic triggered an increase in hunger vulnerability among families with children. Therefore, as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies — which assigns the budget for school lunches — I have been working tirelessly to increase funding for child nutrition programs that provide the nourishment our children require to continue growing, learning, and thriving,” Cuellar said in a statement.
The pandemic also compelled funding for South Texas College, which will receive $6.8 million from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
The college will use the funding for emergency financial aid grants to help students attend school and for emergency costs that arise due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare.
“This important grant funding will ensure that our children, our neighbors, and our students have the necessary resources to continue their education in a safe and welcoming environment,” Cuellar said.
The college’s president expressed gratitude for the help they will receive.
“On behalf of the students of South Texas College, our deepest gratitude for this grant award which will go a long way in offering deserving students financial support for tuition, debt forgiveness opportunities and basic needs, such as child care, food and housing so they can achieve their dreams of an education,” STC President Ricardo Solis said in a statement.
Solis said they also plan to use the money to provide mental health services to help students struggling from pandemic-related stressors.
