I beleive that what we are supposed to be discussing is breakfast for children???!! It's about the kids who have no control over environment or what their parents choose to do or not do. I was once one of those kids and my parents did take advantage of the system at every turn. I had no say in what they did. But I learned, by the help of certain people in my life, not to do that. Every child needs to eat, wether we agree with their family life or not. I went hungry lotse of times and wished someone would have stepped in to help us. Let's be good role models and touch kids lives for the good. After all, they are our future! Thank you to the volunteers who can do just that!

sorry yikes will do

well typically I make more than a college grad and dont have loans out there that never get paid .so mind your own business on what i do . how do i have time to post- IF YOU COULD READ yould know I am at work!!!!
and byt- i do volunteer for guite a few things lately-and in the past few years i guess i didnt really think of right away as volunteering because i had fun doing it.away( if yould like an exact list I can tell you all of it.
and talk about respect maybe YOU should respect people who you think dont havealife!!!!Maybe life would be better for you.
as i figured when i tried to bait you as far as who has your kids and custody- if you were happily married to just one man and had all 5 kids with him or not- i was right NOT. yes i am definatly envoius of those with 5 children and how many dads!!? Bow how i wish i could trade that for good grammar or grammer- i should know that spelling . someone once corrected somebdy on here when they mentioned the bad grammer but couldnt spell it correctly.

thats funny you call ihavealife a STRANGER?? ! better get your records straight.

Ding ding ding ... in one corner momof5, in the other hannah/Ihavenolife.

Since you obviously know each other maybe you should duke this one out outside of the gazette message board so this can stay on topic.

well, hannah, maybe if you had better grammatical skills, you wouldn't have to work 50 hours a week with a 10 hour commute. And, maybe if you didn't hang out with cancerous "friends" who "don't have a life", you could broaden your horizons and not subject yourself to listening to slander and libel. I'm shocked though, hannah, that you say you don't have time to volunteer because you are working and commuting so much...how on Earth do you have time to make all the postings you do on here??? And, yes, thank you very much, I do have custody of my kids. People who assume that they know what custody, in the legal sense, means are morons and only show to the rest of the world how feabile minded they really are. And, unlike someone you "know", I have never had court ordered supervised visits either.
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As for being more tolerant of others just because my son has learning difficulties: get a life! He is a KID. If he was on a message board posting an average of 154 comments a month as an ADULT (5.13 a DAY) but wasn't using spell check and therefore spelling simple words wrong, to the point others didn't take him seriously, then YES, I would offer him the same suggestion. And, not that I would expect you, ihavealife, a STRANGER, to know...but he spells just fine and nearly at grade level. Put your gloves back on, honey.

hannah...You would think someone that has a child with learning difficulties wouldn't mock others.We all need to do all that we can for these breakfast/lunch clubs.Some of the faces you see are ones you would never expect to see.We can all make a difference in others lives with a little effort and lots of understanding it could be us or someone we love !

and now i doubt she would give me $5. since we were nice enough to give her a lawn mower and she didnt maintain it so it broke and then complained to us that it broke. Or maybe shell return a blower that we let her borrow. oh i forgot it was stolen-- maybe by her son that steels other stuff in the house for drug money!!??? But I wouldnt want her to be a decent individual and replace the blower that was stolen!!

by the way mabye YOU should use your dictionary you speak of. :: commitments!!

Does anyone know why some are federally run and some are community run? I know that the federal ones have to pay a little and it sounds like the community ones are free? Wouldn't lower income area schools be eligible for federal programs? Just want to understand why they are set up the way they are. Anyone know?

mom0f5- i am not saying this is a bad program. Now i understand it is all donated. I just have questions. and no sorry i cannot donate. I have a job to be at 50 hours a week plus 10 hours drive time. but thanks for your concern about what i should do with my time.someday IF i am ever able to retire I would love to volunteer at alot of different places. sorry i cannot read so a dictionary wont do me any good. Also i cannot afford it!
maybe you dont have to worry about breakfast for all your kids- do you even has custody?
i will have my margarita or wine ready. sorry no sticks for me. not often anyway

If instead of all the negative remarks being made, why not use your time to better use and donate money, supplies or your time to this "COMMUNITY" program for the KIDS. This is not about the adults. It is about the care, concern and well-being of the children that have no control of why they are in this situation but apparently appreciate the food and company. Some of you adults out there may have been able to use something like this when you were younger. Why is it every time someone does something for the sake of others to help out. There is always someone out there to look to the negative side. So sad! IT'S FOR THE KIDS!!!!

maybe you and hannah can share a dictionary...paid? And, btw, are you sure it is a capias warrant? There is a difference between them and financial committments. Ignoramass. (I meant to spell it that way, no need to offer to share you dictionary with me!) And, yes, you are the resident expert on adults getting their kids or grandkids for that matter, aren't you. Dr. Phil is on somewhere, I'm sure. Better get that long island iced tea or vodka and lemonade ready. And, a few cancer sticks to puff on as I hear channel 38258 is running a marathon of Dr. Phil tonight, for those without a life!

One more question/comment.What happens when the parent doesn't get the kids to school on time for the breakfast club ?? Does the school give them something to hold them over to lunch ?

hannah...If you get that $5.00 maybe you can pass it on to someone to paid on their warrant.Some adults will never get it when it comes to their kids.That's why we have the mess we have with broken spirits and kids not knowing where they will be from one day to the next.I for one am glad these kids have a meal,who knows for sure if the parents even remember to feed them half the time.

And, isn't that a picture of Bill Semmens--the retired Craig HS teacher? (Not Simmons)

hannah: maybe the person of whom you speak can give you $5 of her scammed benefits so you can purchase a dictionary.

If you are not donating resources--either financially or with your time--why in the world do you care who goes to breakfast club or how much their parents make or how many times their parents have played the system???
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Like so many others have said--its more than just eating a "free" breakfast. For a lot of kids it's about the social interaction with their friends and classmates.
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Before you judge, maybe you should go volunteer and see for yourself. I'm sure they could use a helping hand or two.

mom22- it was not an asumption- i know of somebody taking advantage!! she even said herself. ins would be with work if she worked 40 hours.actually you are concidered full time at 33. she would only work 20 and couldnt do more than 25. also it was a VERY flexable job and kids were in school and old enough not to need daycare. so tell me where this makes since. she gets this all free rent etc, and drives around in a car that is over 400 a month AND won a law suit and gets $10,000 a year. how that doesnt play into the funds i dont get it.

hannah mentioned "i haave seen them turn down more hours available to them becasue if they work they WONT get all the FREE stuff. They could probablly make more working 40 hours and pay for the stuff they need themselves but they choose to still live in poverty because they WONT WORK!!!!"

That's a pretty big assumption. I doubt that working the few extra hours really would end up helping them to get ahead. Those few extra hours could actually end up costing them a whole lot more (food, health insurance, reduced rent, etc). I'd be really careful before you make those assumptions because these days you may very well be surprised to find out who you know (and assume don't need the help) that has to use these kinds of services.

And even if it is an issue of being lazy on the parent's part, do we really need to hold children accountable for their parent's choices?

I agree, this program is wonderful for children! I also cannot thank the volunteers who come in early every morning to prepare toast, cut up cheese, make up the crackers, roll up the silverware in napkins, get cereal ready etc, etc enough. I have had the pleasure to work with these wonderful volunteers everyday for the past 2 years and once a week previously to that. I cannot explain to all of you the hard work, patience and dedication that these people have. They have been serving roughly 180 students every morning from 7:40 to 8:00 this year at Wilson School. That is alot of children to feed in 20 minutes and they do it everyday with a smile on their faces.

This is the first time I have ever commented on a blog here in the Gazette, but maybe some of these people who don't have really any positive comments to say can come up to Wilson School and help serve, we can always use volunteers!

Thanks volunteers - the children, our parents, and our staff greatly appreciate all that you do for us!!

the students at Parker have to pay for there Breakfast. Kids who get reduced or free lunches at noon get the sameat Breakfast.

The breakfast clubs at the elementary schools are staffed with Sr. Citzens from neighborhood Churches. I belive the one at Adams is run by 1st Lutheran. There are no tax money involved. Yes my kids went ot it and Yes I would donate to them. I feel sorry for you who are judging these kids and there families

This is a great program that benefits many families. My children (5th and 3rd grade) have had to attend on a few occasions- when I was out of town or had to be at a conference early. They loved it. It is a blessing to our community, and, I personally, will be sure to donate whatever I can. I think this is one of the most worthwhile programs that we have, and, I would hate for it to disappear. Too many children would be hurt. Whether they aren't getting breakfast at home because of money, schedules, laziness, whatever- the kids deserve to eat. I would support a fee for non-income eligible people. It may even increase attendance.

It's not community organizing these are volunteers. Community organizers are paid to organize. I have donated food to the Jefferson Breakfast club when my children attended the school. My kids never ate breakfast there. There was plenty of kids in there when they were in school there and that was 10 years ago. You can tell the kids that need the breakfast and the ones that are there just to socialize.

ladystardust- i didnt have BIg xmas like you are ASSUMMING. ANd I was the one crying as a kid.- so you dont know. i had the ugly kmart rebok look a likes and the rummage sale clothes.and was laughed at becuae i had to save my brown paper bag from lunch for the whole week AND BAggies.I not sure that we were poor just money wasnt spent on me that is for sure.

ladystardust- i said SOME not all.

maybe i should go get some breakfast- yes because times are hard for me as well.

I'm not exactly sure why most of the comments here are focusing on adults that 'won't' work and taxpayers footing the bill, etc.
This program is not run by the school district - it's run by willing volunteers, often groups from local churches, (using no taxpayer dollars) who see a valid ministry in feeding children to make a small investment in their future.
If you want to break the cycle of welfare and poverty, then invest in a child. Help them understand their role in society and offer them a hand up when they need one.
Purpose, worthwile work and making a difference can be transferred to an impressionable child - and they're all impressionable.

I remember joining the Adams Breakfast Club back in 1994. My mother was going back to school in Madison so I would get eat at school. I hope the same situation is for the unemployed single parent. If she isn't in school and she isn't working, there is no reason for her children to be in the club other than it's convenient for her.

But there are alot of children whose parents work wierd hours and take classes and the club is perfect for them.
It's true there is always bad apples who are lazy, but don't judge (hannah) and assume everyone who is poverty is lazy and refuse to work.(hannah) That is just not true, because I was raised in all sides of the spectrum as a child. I know what it's like to have a grand christmas celebration in a middle class home and I have had xmas on welfare. People like you (you as a child,your kids) are the ones making children like me cry in the middle of recess because I'm poor and your not. You don't know the whole story. (hannah)

Now that I am a mother in college who is still under the federal poverty line I know that one day I will afford to donate to great causes like the breakfast club.
I appreciate all of the volunteers work thank you !

Did any of stop to think that maybe there is a different reason she can't get breakfast, like maybe she is in school. Just because a person states they are unemployed, doesn't mean they are sitting home on their arse. Maybe she is, maybe she isn't, but of course every negative person has to come out and put in their 2 cents, which is usually worth NOTHING!

This program is excellent, and for those of us who use the program because of the convience and not because of money issues, we do donate. I see many parents bringing in bags of food that will not only feed their children, but the others who can't afford it as well. And just because a family is having problems being able to afford food for the kids, does not mean that they are sitting home on welfare and don't want to work. With the rising prices of gas and food and so many job losses, many people are having a hard time right now. But, you all sit there at your computers and judge the rest of the world, because you are so much better.

Thank you to all of the volunteers. I certainly appreciate all your efforts.

Don't let big Sarah find out that someone is community organizing around here!

if this program is for all kids why isnt the money being collected from parents to feed the kids?and if theyre low income then a special rate just like lunch.The tax payers pay for all the other stuff the unemployed dont pay for. yes i can see if you need help. but i have seen so many people that wont wa=ork and are able to work. i haave seen them turn down more hours available to them becasue if they work they WONT get all the FREE stuff. They could probablly make more working 40 hours and pay for the stuff they need themselves but they choose to still live in poverty because they WONT WORK!!!!
or am i misunderstanding this program?

Madison Elementary at 331 N. Grant Avenue, 53548 (743-6800) has a breakfast club that feeds all hungry kids attending each day. The volunteers who come each day and provide not only nutrition but also stability and the sense that our community cares for its children provide a wonderful contribution to the students and how they begin their day. Thank you!!

Maybe Davidson needs to go to bed a little earlier, so she could get up in the morning and get her children up at a decent time. Even if they choose to eat at school. It is a disgrace that she says she doesn't have time to feed her kids in the morning, even though she is unemployed. How does she think working parents manage to get up AND feed their children and still have time to get the kids to school and the parents have time to get to work?

Thank you to all the volunteers and others who make this valuable program work.

That's the problem a few people take advantage of the programs and the people that really need it have to go through long channels to get any help. The system is totally broken and needs to be fixed.

butterfly:
I realize that some people DO need assistance from time to time, but when a person can choose to have child after child after child without taking any financial responsibility for those children and expect the government to foot the bill, I find it disgusting.
Our welfare sytem takes money out of the working mans pocket and rewards those who choose not to work.

jvl53547 i have to say that about 2 years ago i would have agreed with you on the government giving the poor everything. i lost my job due to the gm layoffs and now i am a single mom struggling with two children. not that i am whining, but sometimes people need a little bit of help to get back on their feet. are you going to help the people who really want to get back on their feet? I doubt it. This is where the governmet comes into play. The people who don't abuse it deserve to get the help that they need. i do not think that the people who overuse the system deserve it though. there comes a time in life where you have to sit back and look and say "maybe this person does need the help" stop judging people when they cannot defend theirselves.

While the "System" we live in may be discouraging, the fact remains that ALL children deserve to eat and receive a high quality education. Evidence shows that children who eat breakfast perform higher on standardized test and have fewer behavioral problems in school. Eating breakfast has an advantageous effect on late morning mood, satiety and cognitive performance.
Some kids do come due to poor parenting; some come for the camaraderie and to not have to eat alone...either way, it's a small way we can offer a hand up to the children in our community.
The County employees are currently doing a Breakfast Club Challenge to raise 260 boxes and $2,600 in donations to be spread across the Districts of Rock County. We can all make big differences in small ways.
Special thanks to the volunteers who offer their time and resources to make this program so successful!

Breakfast Club is for ALL students not just the low income. My kids went to Breakfast club at Adams even though we had all the breakfast food at home. They went to socialize and not just with there peers but with the volunteers too.

I agree neverforget. Unemployed and too busy to feed the kids. A disgrace. Altho I am a firm believer that a child needs food in their tummies in order to concentrate and learn so we can't blame them. However, sooner or later the parent has to take some responsibility. And not working and being too busy just doesn't sit well with me. It's lame. I am glad the kids are getting fed tho.

Davidson states she doesn't have time to give her children breakfast in the morning. Yet, she is unemployed. Why would she not have time!

Here's a novel idea: Maybe the parents of the children should donate the money themselves. Having children is not a right it is a privilage.
Raising children is expensive.
If a person cannot afford to feed, cloth and educate their children, maybe that person does not need children.
Oh wait, I forgot, our government rewards people who have children that they cannot care for by giving them free food, free housing, free utilities, free childcare.

It's the list at the bottom called "community-sponsored breakfasts". The largest and oldest club is Wilson's.

Anybody know what the other 5 clubs are that we could contribute to are?