Local students receive free meals for a month after Hurricane Irma

Agriculture commissioner serves breakfast to students in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam served breakfast to students at Beauclerc Elementary School on Thursday morning.

The students were taking part in the free meals program that is available to Hurricane Irma victims in 48 counties across the state for the next month. 

Putnam’s office said the decision to provide the meals for students was made possible because the counties were subject to a FEMA Major Disaster Declaration after Hurricane Irma.

“Amongst all of the stress of Floridians, making sure your child eats well in school ought not be one of them, and I'm proud that we were able to take that burden off parents,” said Putnam, who is running for governor.

All local counties are included in the free lunch program, which started earlier this week. The changes are estimated to impact 2.5 million students at more than 3,000 schools across Florida.

As part of the National School Lunch Program, all students will be able to have free access to school meals now through Oct. 20.

Putnam said easing the burden on families is most important, since some in the state still don’t have power, had significant flooding, or suffered other losses. 

Principal Mariah Spassoff said some Beauclerc families felt those pains directly.

“Some of the families lost everything in their refrigerators,” Spassoff said. “If they were making lunches, they don't have the resources now to do that. Now they can come here and not have to worry about packing lunches, and they can get in the classroom, have better engagement with the teacher. That's one of the biggest benefits.”

There is no application process for parents or students to go through. All students have to do is go to the school cafeteria during their regular lunch time and the meal will be provided.