These figures fail to reflect more recent changes. Free and reduced price school lunch figures, collected annually, are more sensitive to changes over time. Significance Poor children face enormous risks as they grow and develop. Compared to other children, they are much more vulnerable to hunger, homelessness, physical and mental disabilities, illness, violence, nutritional deficiencies and death. Children are more likely to be poor than any other age group, and are more likely to be chronically poor than adults or senior citizens.
Young children are more likely to be poor than older children.
Enrollment in the Free and Reduced Price School Lunch program is also an important indicator of child nutrition. Children who are constantly hungry have a diminished capacity to learn. Participation in the school lunch program enables children to get the nutrition they need to succeed in school. Citizens for Missouri's Children. Kids Count in Missouri 2000 Data Book.