Students attending Starkville schools to receive free meals

Students in the Starkville Oktibbeha School District will receive free breakfast and lunch for the rest of the year.

Pandemic can bring some hardships on families with children.

Wtvas nicole dantzler is live with how one school district's food program can help families navigate the pandemic..

Students in the starkville oktibbeha school district will receive free meals for the rest of the year... the child nutrition director said this is an opportunity families should not pass up.

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"while we have this small window of opportunity we would love for as many families as possible to take advantage of it."

Ginny hill-child nutrition director, starkville oktibbeha school district 0:00-0:05;26 ginny hill is the child nutrition director for the starkville oktibbeha school district.

She said today was the first day that students in the school district received free meals.

"this program does allow students to eat free breakfast and lunch."

The school district participates in the summer feeding program that the united states department of agriculture offers every year.

Because of the pandemic, the usda made it possible for students to eat for free through december 31st.

"it is an extension of their summer feeding program.

Due to the coronavirus and the struggles that families might be having still they've allowed districts to enroll and extend that program."

Students who enrolled in traditional classes will eat in the cafeteria..

But virtual students can pick up their meals every school day from 10:30 to 11 at starkville high school.

"this is a first for our school district to be able to offer free lunch for all families."

Hill said in january the district will move back to offering free, reduced or pay lunch options..

So she encourages families to take advantage of the opportunity.

Live in starkville nicole dantzler wtva nine news.

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