http://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/upimage/VF_I18B_021.pdf

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Part of Dwindling Funds Threaten to Halt Breakfast for School Children, December 10, 1969

Text

BEN

12/10/69

pg. 35

Dwindling Funds Threaten to Halt
Breakfast

for

School

Children

When members of the Black Student Union (BSU) An embittered Mr. Autrey.
blamed "liberal" white students
began serving free breakfasts to. neighborhood children I for opposing the student ,
••

I

two months ago, some critics said they were biting off association grant and white
students in general for the voidmore than they could chew.

,
ed referendum .
The program has expanded so
fast that the BSU might run out who attends fifth grade at The BSU's shrinking breakfast
11 •
treasuryofstillthe
contains
about student
of the money it needs to feed 170nearby
y School 41 on Jefferson $3,000
original
young black children who now St. "They have good things to
..
crowd into Westminster Com- eat," he said, nodding toward association grants but with food
expenses amounting
I
to $750
munity. House, 431 Monroe St.,. the turnover.
week,
1 that. can't last long.
Mr. Autrey, the program Mr. Autrey said the BSU
eachI1 school morning.
"We wanted to show. the chairman, said he had hoped. to would try to continue the proyounger brothers and
sisters be able to expand the operation gram even if it failed to get stuthat we
haven't forgotten to 250 children · next month by I dent funds or reach ·a goai of
them," said Charles Autrey, 19, offering breakfasts at the new $25,000 in public contributions.
State Ur.iversily of Buffalo fresh- Puerto Rican American "We'll start using money .out cf
man who heads the breakfast Association Community Center our own pockets," he said.
program.
"We've started
some- in addition to those served at "These kids look up to us."
thing we just can't stop.
Westminster House.
The BSUaiready has begun to.
So the soft-spoken, bushyNow he fears that he will have drive for breakfast funds but so
haired Mr. Autrey and the other to cancel the program in five to far the response has been scatBSU members who rise at 6 AM seven weeks unless new funds tered.
to help prepare the breakfasts are found.
"We'veraised $1,000 so far
are appealing to the public for The 40-member organization from different organizations - ·
its support.
of UB students began serving from Tonawanda, Snyder, EgThey will use the money to iree breakfas:s to children in the gertsville - but nothing from
buy more eggs, beef, milk, juice School 41 neighborhood in mid- Buffalo," said Mr. Autrey .
"We were hoping some people
and grits which they prepare ior :Octoher with two grants totaling
the school children who begin $5,200 from the UB Student in the community would show us
some support before we have to
arrivingat 3 A.M.
Association.
The children are seated at Mr. Autrey said represen- go begging.
These are their
long
tables
in tatives of the student association kids."
three
Westminster's main dining room promised to contribute. another
under a poster of Malcolm X. $28,000 to keep the program in
Seated at the end or the ·c enter operation but then called for a
table was Daniel Kenner, 10, of campus referendum when some
555 Sycamore St., who was white students opposed such
thoughtfully inspecting an apple grant.
turnover in one hand and a The referendum was held
glassof milk in the other.
before Thanksgiving but was
"I like it here because we get declared invalid amid charges
something to eat," said Daniel, of ballot-stuffing.