By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Officials at USD 489 are encouraging families to apply for free and reduced-price lunches.
Free lunches for all students will end in August, Jessica Younker, nutrition services director, said.
During the pandemic, school meals were free for all students nationwide under a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Younker said she thinks there will be a larger need for free and reduced-price lunches compared to prior to the pandemic because of the challenging economic times.
The summer lunch program, which is free, has seen double and triple the numbers this summer compared to pre-pandemic. Yonker said the program, which runs through July 29, is feeding 300 to 600 students daily.
"I think [families] are just happy that we have the program in general because they don't have to plan," she said. "It saves them from having to plan and purchase food for their kids' meals this summer."
During COVID, the school lunch program was drive-through only. This year, families could eat at Roosevelt Elementary School or take meals home. A cold breakfast for the next day was offered as a take-home option.
Meals are served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at Roosevelt.
Younker said she hopes to get the word out about the free and reduced-price lunch applications. They can be filled out online at www.ezmealapp.com in English or Spanish or families can request paper copies from the USD 489 district office.
Families can find a list of frequently asked questions and answers on the school lunch program at https://5il.co/1dk8c
Applications also will be available at in-person enrollment.
Families can apply for free and reduced-price lunches at any time during the year. However, Younker encouraged families to apply prior to enrollment, because families who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches also qualify for reduced enrollment fees.
The school lunch income guidelines are based on gross income. Younker said if families need assistance in calculating what should count as income on their lunch program applications, they can contact the school district office for assistance.
The cost of a school lunch will be the same as it was pre-COVID.
Food costs have increased significantly, Younker said. However, she said the nutrition program accumulated some funds during COVID that it plans to use to offset the cost of meals for the coming year to ease the economic burden on families.
"We didn't want to make our families struggle more than they already are," Younker said. "Going from free to $2.70 a meal is going to be a shock for some of our families."
The number of students who receive free and reduced-cost lunches also affects the amount of funding the school district receives from the state. School districts receive extra funding based on their student populations' income levels.
"There is no harm in filling out the application," Younker said.
The applications are confidential, she said.
If families have further questions, they can contact Younker at [email protected]