SHAFTER, Calif. -- As part of the summer school program at Golden Oak Elementary School, every student gets a free meal. But school volunteer Robyn Kilpatrick says much of the food isn't being eaten, "(The students will) go through the line, they'll have their tray and five items, (and) they put it right in the trash can."

Kilpatrick points out that it's not just half-eaten leftovers that are getting dumped. "I got this out of the trash can yesterday," she said pointing to an unopened bag of snacks. "I'm not talking about milk, things that are non-perishable (are getting thrown out)."

Kilpatrick estimates that hundreds of dollars of perfectly good food is getting tossed in the trash every day. She thinks part of the problem is that students can't refuse the food they don't want to eat. Lisa Mizell, Richland School District Food Services Coordinator, explained why that is. "In order to make sure that we get (Federally reimbursed for the food) we have to cook all the items, and (the students) have to take so many items on their tray to be a reimbursable meal," said Mizell.

As a way to keep the food out of the garbage a "share table" was created as a place for kids to put their unwanted and uneaten food items for others to have. Another problem is that the food can't leave the cafeteria. "We use state commodity foods which can only be consumed by students. So if a child is taking something home there's no way to know if they're eating it or if they're giving it to a parent," explained Mizell. "We cannot use state funds to feed parents."

Kilpatrick understands but given the budget crisis schools across the state are facing, she thinks more needs to be done. "I know schools are really low staffed right now, they're letting teachers go, making cut backs, (but) they're throwing thousands of dollars worth of food away."

Mizell says cafeteria staff is instructed to encourage students to use the "Share Table". She adds that non-perishable, uncontaminated-contaminated food is re-used, but if it ends up in the trash that's where it stays.

According to the Richland School District Budget $1.8 million was spent in the cafeteria fund for the 2008-2009 school year. The 2009-10 school budget estimates that $2 million will be spent.