Sep. 2, 2020 Child Nutrition Update – Free Meals

September 2, 2020

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events
may be not be relevant for the current school year.

The CMCSS Child Nutrition Department has received great news! On Tuesday, the USDA approved for CMCSS to continue serving free breakfast and lunch meals to all children 18 and under, as the district has since March. The USDA stated that these free meals will be available through December 2020, or until funds run out. No information has been made available beyond December 2020.

All students in CMCSS K-12 Virtual and all students in the traditional, in-person setting can receive these allowable free meals. Traditional students will receive a free breakfast and lunch during the school day. CMCSS K-12 Virtual meals will be served curbside. Curbside meals served on Mondays from 1-2 p.m. will include breakfast and lunches for the week. Meals served curbside on Fridays from 1-2 p.m. will include breakfast and lunch meals for the weekend.

IMPORTANT: If parents/guardians feel their family may qualify for free or reduced meal benefits when this program ends, they still need to apply now at www.schoolcafe.com. Applying online is the preferred and fastest method. Families may obtain a paper application from their student’s enrolled school. Completing this application now will ensure that the proper eligibility is in place when this program ends, ensuring there is no gap in benefits for a family that is approved for free or reduced meals.

Although prepayment for meals will not be needed, if a student wants to purchase any items available outside of the free meal served in the cafeteria, funds will need to be applied to his/her account. Parents/guardians can preload funds on a student’s account at www.schoolcafe.com. This is the preferred and fastest way to add funds. Or, families may mail a check in advance to the cafeteria at their student’s enrolled school. No payments will be accepted curbside. Funds already applied to a student’s account can remain on the account for use when this program ends.