ELKHART — High unemployment in Elkhart County is causing more students to apply for free or reduced breakfast and lunch. More parents in the Elkhart school system are relying on the program so their children won't go hungry.

Betty Flowers' mom and dad are currently out of work. The third grader at Woodlawn Elementary is on the free lunch program and she likes it.

"It has your fruits. It has my favorite milk and that's strawberry," Betty said. "I like my lunch because it’s the best."

This year, compared to last, the Elkhart school system has had 1,500 more students sign up for a free or reduced lunch with more than twice that number signed up for breakfast.

Pam Fletcher of District Food Services said, "It's because of the economy and parents being laid off, or losing their positions. We are hearing from parents that they are having trouble making ends meet, so I think that's why we're getting more and more parents coming in."

Cindy Hackman, the lunch supervisor, says she hears almost every day from students about their financial struggles at home.

"They'll tell me their parents have lost their jobs, they're losing their homes and they have to move in with Grandma," she said. "Some of them have even told me that they're moving into hotel rooms because they don't have a place to go."

The school system says the government funded program provides some students with their only balanced meals of the day.

Wa-Nee school system is experiencing the same situation. They have seen a jump of over 40 percent in the number of students going with free or reduced meals. They say those numbers keep going up.