From its beginning, the National School Lunch Program has been woefully under-funded, according to many school food experts.

CNN: Schools struggle to feed kids healthy food

To provide healthy food in schools, local elected officials commit to increasing participation in the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

It's no wonder, then, that another study from 2009 that looked at children who participated in the National School Lunch Program found they were more likely to gain weight than other children.

CNN: Schools struggle to feed kids healthy food

Holy Cross Regional School in Collegeville has its 2012 back-to-school lunch form publicly posted on its website and it spells out that free lunches are available through the NDS under the National School Lunch Program.

FORBES: Caroline Pla, 11-Year Old Football Player, Discriminated Against By The Catholic Church

Since the National School Lunch Program was founded over six decades ago, schools have served over 200 billion lunches that have helped generations of children achieve in the classroom and grow into our country's next generation of leaders.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

As a sponsor of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, the After School Meals Program, and the Special Milk Program, NDS is able to provide schools with meals that are partially funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and meet specific requirements regarding nutrition and price.

FORBES: Caroline Pla, 11-Year Old Football Player, Discriminated Against By The Catholic Church

And so, especially since the 1960's, several federal food assistance programs are now in place to provide a safety net for needy families including SNAP, National School Breakfast and Lunch, the Summer Food Service Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and WIC.

WHITEHOUSE: Champions of Change Blog