Free Meals for Students

Free Breakfast and Lunch Available for Students
Posted on 01/06/2021


From the Director of School Dining & Nutrition Services: Dianne Houlihan

Dear Parents and Families:

FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR

 

GOOD NEWS: On October 9, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture announced a waiver that allows us to continue providing free meals to children for the entire 2020/21 school year!

Whether your child is in the school building or learning from home!  We know that the children are working hard, and we are ready to provide them with the fuel they need!  These services are also making it easier for parents who are juggling obligations of work and parenting in a new way.  We encourage all children to enjoy the selections our kitchens are putting together. Meals are available Monday-Friday when school is in session. Please check the website menu for pickup day changes due to holidays or no school.  We are providing one breakfast and lunch per child per day.

 

Since the start of school, we have been providing five days’ worth of breakfast and lunch packages to families who are using the Distance Learning model. NEW! Families no longer are required to complete an online form to obtain the meals.  They can drive through our Clark Lane distribution site on Wednesday mornings to pick up meals from 10 am -12pm. To maintain social distancing, please stay in your vehicle and we will place the meals in your trunk.

Providing meals to children when their school building has temporarily closed has been a process and we continue to learn how to do this more effectively each time. Should Clark Lane ever have to close our alternate site to pick up meals would be Oswegatchie.  You would be notified by email should this occur. Please check the website or emails periodically for any new information or updates.

Location of Meal Pickup:
Clark Lane  Middle School, 105 Clark Lane - Follow meal pick-up signs, stay in your cars, roll down window.  Give student name, masks required, pop your trunk and staff will put meals in for you 

Time of Meal Pickup:
Wednesdays between 10am and 12pm

Check out the School Dining and Nutrition Services Newsletter for more information. 



SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY

CDC and USDA Safety Protocols are practiced by our entire staff including the following:
                • Masks worn at all times
                • Gloves and hair restraints in place
                • All paper takeout containers
                • Wrapped plastic ware
                • Deep sanitizing of all kitchens, carts, and equipment after each shift

In school meals are delivered to the classrooms in the elementary and middle schools. WHS students come to the cafeteria, grab & go style and eat socially distanced.


Take-Home Meals for Distance Learners and for Hybrid Learners’ School-at-Home Days

All meals are packaged as both breakfast and lunch and are free of charge. They are for all children in the household age 18 years or younger.  All takeā€home meals meet Connecticut Healthy Food Certification standards containing breakfast and lunch entrees and assorted side dishes, featuring healthy whole grains and quality proteins. A variety of fruits and vegetables, juices and milk are also provided.

Menus each week are subject to change and are determined not only by the layout and staffing of the school kitchens but also by the availability of products from our vendors, who also face challenges due to the pandemic.

*Look for the food safety, storage, and reheating guidelines flyer provided in your meal bag.

 

*Waterford School Dining and Nutrition Services participate in the National School Lunch Program by offering a choice of healthy meals each school day. All meals served must meet nutrition standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Connecticut State Child Nutrition Department. Our staff is committed to serving your children with healthy well balanced breakfast and lunch. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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