Local McDonald's Stores Offer Free Breakfast To Students
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Local McDonald's stores offered free meals to students preparing for standardized testing this morning.
Participating restaurants served a free, healthy breakfast to all students in grades 3 - 8 who visited with an adult.
"McDonald's knows that breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day to get all the kids started out right," Judy Lombardo, Director of Operations for McDonald's in Green Tree, said.
The "Test Your Best" meal included an Egg McMuffin, apple slices, and choice of white or chocolate milk. Students also received a No. 2 pencil.
"We're really glad to see that McDonald's is recognizing the importance of breakfast for kids as they make their way to school. This is something that school districts, obviously here in Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh Public Schools, but across the county have been working on for a number of years," Allies for Children Executive Director Patrick Dowd said.
Allies for Children recently conducted a study with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, highlighting the importance of breakfast programs at school and how that first meal makes a difference in the classroom.
"We find that kids are getting to school and they don't have the right nutrition and the right things they need to get started as far as food is concerned, it makes the day more difficult," Dowd said.
A national study ranked Pennsylvania 40th overall in school breakfast participation.
Dowd says more schools are starting to offer breakfast in Allegheny County.
"We've seen an uptick in the number of districts that offer school breakfast to more than 50 percent of their kids," Dowd said.
Standardized testing begins next week for Pennsylvania students.
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