Want free meals for your Clay County student? Here's how to do it

District announces policy for no-charge, discounted meals

CLAY COUNTY, Fla.

Students at 12 schools in Clay County will now receive free breakfast and lunch, the district announced Monday.

The following sites will have the meals available at no charge or a reduced price, for families that qualify:

  • Bannerman Learning Center
  • Charles E. Bennett Elementary
  • Clay Hill Elementary
  • Grove Park Elementary
  • Keystone Heights Elementary
  • McRae Elementary
  • Middleburg Elementary
  • Montclair Elementary
  • Ridgeview Elementary
  • S. Bryan Jennings Elementary
  • W.E. Cherry Elementary

Clay County District Schools announced an amendment to its policy for serving meals to students under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs for the 2017-18 school year.

In compliance with civil rights law and civil rights regulations through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA programs can’t discriminate based on factors such as race, age or sex.

Information regarding household size and income will be used to determine eligibility for the free or discounted meals, the district said. Once approved, meal benefits are good for an entire year.

Parents can apply for free and reduced-price meals online. Paper applications will still be sent home at the beginning of the school year.

To apply, each household of interested individuals must complete an online application or a paper application and return it to the school or the Food and Nutrition Services Office. The information will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year.

Parents can submit an application at any time during the year.

Households that receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) are required to list on the application only the child’s name, SNAP/TANF case number and a signature of adult household member, the district said.

Foster children will receive free benefits regardless of the income situation at home.

People who have children considered migrants, homeless or runaway should contact the district liaison at 904-336-1346 or migrant coordinator at 352-955-6855, the district said.

Anyone who is trying to determine household size who has a deployed service member in the family should name that person on the application.

In many cases, expect to fill out total household income, names of everyone living at the home, a signature and a Social Security number from the adult filling out the form.

Contact the Food and Nutrition Services Department with any changes to employment statuses or the number of family members in the home.

The Food and Nutrition Services Administrative Support Assistant will review applications and determine who is eligible. Parents or guardians can follow up with the ruling if needed -- formally or informally.