For the more than 100,000 students in El Paso County who qualify for free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches, the trays full of food they receive twice a day might be the only balanced meals they see all day.

El Paso school cafeterias serve more than 20 million meals a year to a student population that, for the most part, is poor enough to qualify for at least a discounted price.

"We are serving a hand-made audience of students who -- rich or poor -- need this meal. We are serving the community as a whole," said Adel Balesh, the director of nutrition services for the Canutillo Independent School District. "But, yes, the vast majority of our students are of low-income families, and the meals we provide do mean a lot to them."

According to the National School Lunch Program, which oversees nutrition services at public schools, children in families earning at or below 130 percent of the poverty rate may qualify for free lunch and breakfast.

For a family of four, that means that the total income for the household can't exceed $26,000 a year.

In the county, 73 percent of the students in public schools are considered economically disadvantaged by the state. That figure jumps to 99.8 percent in school districts such as Anthony, or 97 percent in San Elizario and Tornillo.

Nancy Nordell, the director of food nutrition services in the El Paso Independent School District, said cafeteria workers know that the breakfast, lunch and after-school snacks they provide are essential for the thousands of children who come from poor families.

"We know that for a lot of them it's the only meal that they will eat during the day," she said. "That's why our work takes on a completely different level of importance. We must make sure that the kids get as much out of this meal as possible."

Ysleta-area parent Lori Gonzalez said she appreciates the free meals her three children receive each day at school, especially because it means her fixed income gets a bit of relief.

"During the summer, my kids eat all meals at home, and the food doesn't last as long as when they're in school," she said. "The cafeteria really does make a difference. I am grateful for it."

Most school districts in the area provide free breakfasts and lunches for students during the summer, but the cafeterias remain open only part of the long vacation break.

Canutillo's Balesh said any time away from school -- and away from cafeteria food -- can be stressful for families with limited resources.

"I really try hard to get as many kids in my cafeterias as possible throughout the year," she said. "We know their needs. Let's give these children the service and get them something to eat."

This article was published in Week 5 of the El Paso Times Poverty Series.