A Florida mother says her daughter was denied lunch on the first day of school because she didn't have money to pay a 15 cent debt.
Kimberly Aiken told WKMG-TV in Orlando that her daughter, a sophomore at University High School in Orange City, Florida, was told that she owed 15 cents when she went through the lunch line on the first day of school this week. When she told the cashier that she didn't have any money on her, the cashier allegedly threw the food away.
Aiken's daughter did not eat anything for the rest of the school day.
According to CBS News, Aiken signed her daughter up for a free and reduced-cost lunch program at University High School. However, the program hadn't taken effect yet. Aiken suspects that the 15 cent deficit was carried over from last year.
A spokesperson for the Volusia County Public Schools said the district has contacted the family directly about the issue.
Aiken's daughter reportedly brought a quarter to school the next day to cover the deficit and was told the shortage had been taken care of.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
