More KELOLAND families are asking for help in paying their child's school lunch bill.

Parents pay at least $2.20 per meal for a full-price lunch, but those who meet certain income guidelines can get on a reduced-price plan and pay only 40 cents per meal, and some can get school lunches for free.

This school year, a record number of people across KELOLAND are applying for these programs.

Hungry students fill their plates at Brandon Valley's newest elementary school, and no one wants to miss out on pizza day.  But for many families, it's getting harder and harder to afford these meals.

"With the economy the way it is, as we hear people have their hours cut eight, ten hours a week, or lose their jobs, it tells us there's a definite need for free and reduced programs," Brandon Valley Child nutrition Director Gay Anderson said.

In Brandon, around 400 students receive school lunches at a discounted rate and nearly 200 get them for free. It amounts to nearly one-fifth of all students in the district.

Anderson says she's also seeing more people apply for the programs and barely miss the mark.

“The hard part for me to see is people are missing qualifying by a buck. I've had a family (miss it) by $1.05 have to be refused," Anderson said.

Anderson says those who've been turned down can reapply at any time if there's a loss in household income, and families need to take advantage of the opportunity.

"Don't be ashamed to apply; that's what the programs are there for.  That's what we do; that's how we want to help people out," Anderson said.

Every school in the U.S. offers free and reduced-price lunches, and schools are reimbursed by the government. As president of the South Dakota School Nutrition Association, Anderson says she'd like to see the "reduced" part of the program disappear, and the "free" requirements expanded to reach more people.

To apply for the program at your school, contact the child nutrition director or food service office.