10-year-old ‘Hero of the Year’ aims to stop ‘lunch shaming’

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Ryan Kyote, 10, was upset to see other students denied the same lunch as their classmates because their parents owed money.

“It made me sad to even see them have no lunch, because they had their head down, and it’s sad,” he said.

Kyote decided to use his allowance to pay off the lunch debt his classmates owed.

“It’s awesome, because now they’re happy, and play with their friends and have a good time,” he said, “instead of putting their head down and crying.”

Kyote has become a face for the movement against “lunch–shaming.”

His home state of California passing a bill this fall requiring that all students receive their meal of choice — regardless of whether their parents owe unpaid meal fees.

Now Rhode Island legislators are considering similar action.

“I know what it feels to be hungry,” said bill sponsor Rep. Marcia Ranglin–Vassell, (D) Providence. “I know what it feels to be denied lunch. If we want to raise test scores in Rhode Island, we need to feed our children.'”

Lincoln Public Schools have already taken steps in that direction, making sure debts are discussed directly with parents, and not punishing kids by forcing them to have a different meal.

“You really do want to try and recoup as much of that money as you can,” said Lincoln Superintendent Lawrence Filippelli, “but you don’t want to do that by putting children in the mix of that.”

Kyote does think children can be in the mix — when it comes to making change.

“Heroes come in all ages,” he said. “So it doesn’t matter how old you are. You can be a hero.”

The bill is expected to be introduced when legislators reconvene next month.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019