UPDATE 10/14/2020: More great news for CCSD families ... the USDA funding for free school meals for all students has been extended through the end of the school year!
Cherokee County School District families are receiving a new form of economic stimulus: free school meals for all students!
CCSD School Nutrition beginning Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 will not charge any fees to any students for breakfasts or lunches through Dec. 31, 2020 (the end date is dependent on available funding), based on extended meal service flexibilities from the USDA. There are no forms to complete or income eligibility requirements for this federally funded temporary relief program.
The USDA funding is retroactive to Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, and all meals charged since then will be credited by the end of the month back to students’ accounts to use for future meals. If an unpaid balance for meals was incurred over the past week, that balance will be waived. School Nutrition will continue to charge fees for second helpings and a la carte extras like chips and cookies.
These free meals are not only available to in-person students, but also to all CCSD Digital Learning students who order a week of to-go meals on Thursdays for Monday pick-up. These free meals also are available to students at CCSD’s three high schools with hybrid schedules -- for both in-person days and for at-home days if to-go meals are ordered in advance. The to-go meal order form is emailed on Thursday mornings and due at 8 a.m. every Friday. Children who are not yet school age who come with their parent/caregiver to the Digital Learning meal pick-up are eligible to receive their own bag of to-go meals at that time as well.
“Our hardworking School Nutrition team provides fresh and nutritious meals every day to our students, including those who otherwise would go hungry. These new USDA flexibilities recognize that many families are struggling who do not meet its free and reduced-price meal program’s income guidelines,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “We’re grateful for this federal support to provide relief to families who need a helping hand during this challenging time to ensure their children are fed.”
Dr. Hightower said it’s still important for all families who think they may qualify for free or reduced-price meals to still complete the online application at www.lunchapplication.com by Sept. 14, 2020, which is the previous year’s approval grace period deadline. This approval will be needed to receive free and reduced-price meals after the temporary program providing free meals to all students ends on Dec. 31 (dependent on available funding).
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