Free Meals Extended To All Vernon Public School Students

VERNON, CT — The Vernon public school system will be providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students starting Monday for at least the first part of the 2020-21 school year.

The announcement came on the heels of an United State Department of Agriculture extension of benefits. The program is, for now, running from Sept. 14 through Dec. 31 or while funding lasts.

The extension comes with major changes to Vernon's curbside meal distribution.

Starting the week of Sept. 14, meal boxes will be distributed on Wednesdays only. Meal Boxes must be ordered ahead of time no later than the Monday before pick up. One form must be filled out per child. For families with children at multiple schools, parents will be able to pick up for all children at one location. The school chosen for pick up can be designated when ordering on the Google Form.

The order form can be accessed here.

Meal pickups for families participating in the hybrid plan are slated for Wednesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Meal pickups for students participating in the virtual learning plan are on tap for Wednesdays from 2 to to 3:30 p.m.

All families participating in the hybrid plan can select to receive a three-day meal box. Students can get free meals for the days they are in school at the respective schools.

If students are in Group A (in school on Monday and Tuesday), the meals are intended to cover Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If students are in Group B (in school on Thursday, Friday), the meals are intended to cover Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week.

All families participating in the five-day virtual learning plan can select to receive a five-day meal box, which includes meals for the week.

Meals will be packaged and distributed frozen. Other items intended to have longer shelf lives like applesauce, raisins, string cheese and yogurt will be included as well as fruits and vegetables.

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This story is part of Patch's new partnership with Feeding America. Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

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