USDA extends free school meals

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, families can at least breathe a small sigh of relief as the USDA extends free student meals until the end of the year

Six.) as the covid-19 pandemic continues- families can at least breathe a small sigh of relief.the usda extending free student meals until the end of the year.

Kq2's kilee thomas has what this means for area students.

Kilee thomas reportingarea schools are serving free meals for the rest of 2020sot: brian tarr, sjsd nurtrition services- "it allows us to feed any student in the st.

Joseph school district of the schools that qualify for free.

Breakfast and lunch."the usda has extended its summer meal programs to december 31st -- providing free breakfast and lunch to all studentsas the covid-19 pandemic has put a financial strain on families sot: tar- "it helps a lot.

It allows us to feed them without having to collect payments.

Some of the families that were borderline, now get free meals without having to worry about it.

We have seen an increase in numbers of students eating, we'd like to feed more."the sjsd's coordinator of nutrition services says for a school in the district to qualify for the free meal extension-51% of the school needs to be on free or reduced lunch17 schools in the st.

Joseph school district fall within that range.students enrolled in the virtual academy also get free breakfast and lunch district says not many families are taking up the offersot:tarr- "we've actually seen a lot of virtual students not come in to get meals.

We would like to see more come in.""we're doing around 250 student meals that are picked up.

Before the extension, we were doing about 120-130."the usda waivers have helped other area schools provide students with free meals.when the pandemic hit -- mid-buchanan school district saw a significant increase in need.sot:jay albright, mid-buch.

Superintendent- "i think our first delivery day we had maybe 25 or 26 students and then within two weeks, it climbed to over 190.

We were glad to help and support those who needed it, but i honestly didn't realize it would climb that high."nutrition services says the pandemic has given them a heavy workloadsot: tar- "it's actually a lot of work for our ladies in the kitchen.

Not only are they feeding the students in the buildings, but preparing meals to go or passing out meals to go.

It is a lot of work for them."but still, want to feed as many kids as possible sot:tarr- "we would obviously like to see more."reporting in st joseph kilee thomas kq2 the free meal extention lasts until the end of december or until funds run out.

Tarr says 6 school in the sjsd don't qualify for the program because their percentage of students of free or reduced lunch is too