Group Offers To Fund School Children's Breakfasts

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A coalition of faith-based groups in Colorado Springs has offered to contribute the $124,229 needed to continue breakfasts for needy school children if the Colorado Legislature can't find the money.

The Legislature's Joint Budget Committee voted earlier this month to end the free breakfasts because of the state's budget shortfall. Low-income students might have to start paying 30 cents a meal after March when the funding runs out.

But the Community Roundtable in Colorado Springs says it's prepared to provide the money so no child goes without breakfast.

Members of the budget committee say the state still might be able to come up with the money need to subsidize the Start Smart Nutrition Program until the end of the school year.

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