Free Meals Offered To Cherokee County Students

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Cherokee County School District families are receiving a new form of economic stimulus: free school meals for all students.

The school nutrition department will not charge any fees to any students for breakfasts or lunches through Dec. 31, 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, 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 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 the district’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 Brian 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.”

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 by Sept. 14, 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).

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.