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All city schoolchildren now eligible for free meals

Every student who attends a Philadelphia School District school is now eligible for free breakfast and lunch, officials announced Thursday.

Students must simply show up to school to receive the free food - applications are no longer required.

Prior to the switch, about 80 percent of district students were eliglble for free and reduced lunch. All students had been eligible for free breakfast for four years.

"Our goal is to provide as many students as possible with access to healthy, nutritious meals," Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said. "We want to keep students' focus on learning, not hunger."

Increasing the number of meals sold will not cost the cash-strapped district anything. Federal and state subsidies pay for the food-services program, which receives no money from the district or city.

The district said it would reduce administrative costs by not requiring applications and cash payments. Some of its food service personnel will be freed up to do other jobs.

About 143,000 students are served school meals annually. All schools offer breakfast and lunch, but about 100 offer dinner as part of after school programs.