This story was first published at CPR News.

DENVER | It’s lunch time at York International School, a kindergarten through 12th grade public school in Thornton, and the cafeteria is packed. Sixth- and seventh-graders share what they are having for lunch:

Cheese toast and blueberries. Chicken and rice — and something else one boy doesn’t quite know the name for.

“A pear,” his friend tells him.

Some of the fresh food are new items some kids don’t get at home.

“I love that it’s free,” said one student. “When it wasn’t free, my mom was kind of homeless. We were kind of on a budget and it was hard to eat here. But now it’s free and I can eat for free.”

They also love the food at the cafeteria.

Middle schoolers Elina, Maverick, and Jannat (left to right) say school lunch is “yummy” and s

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