KENNEWICK—With more people out of work, and everyone pinching pennies Action News wanted to know just how it’s hitting kids and where.

Turns out more kids in Kennewick are qualifying for free and reduced lunch.

The numbers speak for themselves.

Over 500 students who qualify for free and reduced lunch this year didn't qualify last year.

That's a 7% increase.

There's also a shift in just what kids qualify for.

Students who once got the reduced lunch have moved up into the free category.

“The economic downturn has caused a lot of people to lose work and therefore they qualify for meals when they wouldn't in the past so they're more sensitive in thinking we've got to figure out a way to make this work, maybe I'll qualify for free or reduced meals so they make the application,” Sam Shick, Nutrition Director for the Kennewick School District said.

Not only that, the Feds changed the poverty level to make it easier for people to qualify for the free and reduced lunches.

This year over 50% of kids in the Kennewick School District qualify, and that's upping the number meals served.

“We're seeing more people getting lunch and breakfast today than we did last year,” Sam Shick said.

Kennewick School District says it's coping because those extra lunches are spread over 21 schools, but it does mean more work.

“They're working a little extra time here and there as they need and we're buying more food,” Sam Schick said.

Every meal costs the district the same.

They're reimbursed by the Federal Government for every meal it serves.

“We're seeing a demographic shift from students that use to be paid and are now reduced or free and so we're seeing a lot more free meals, a lot more reduced meals, and about the same or fewer paid meals, but the net result is we're serving more meals,” Sam Schick said.

When every dollar counts free fresh fruit and veggies for your kid can go a long way.

Action News also checked with the Richland and Pasco School District.

In Richland 31% of students qualify, they added almost 200 kids to the program this year.

In Pasco about 70% qualify for free and reduced lunch. This year over 800 kids were added.