By Lookout Staff

July 30, 2019 -- The School District has launched its National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the period from July 1 to June 30 of next year.

To qualify for free or reduced-price meals children must come from households with incomes less than or equal to the federal guidelines, District officials said.

"Households do not need to turn in an application when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meals," officials said. That applies when any household member who receives benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs or FDPIR. Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may also be eligible.

Also eligible for the program are foster, homeless, migrant or runaway children, officials said.

"If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals," District officials said.

School officials should be contacted if any child in the household is not on the notification letter.

Households that do not wish to receive free or reduced-price meals should also contact school officials.

"Applications will be sent to the household with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program," District officials said.

"Households that want to apply for meal benefits must fill out one application for all children in the household."

The completed application must be returned to the District's Food & Nutrition Services office at 1651 16th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

Households may turn in an application at any time during the school year.

"If you are not eligible now, but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR, you may turn in an application at that time," District officials said.

Applications can also be filled out and sent online at smmusd.org/foodservices.

For help filling out the application call Food & Nutrition Services at 310-450-8338, ext. 70342.

"Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials," District officials said.

The school will let households know if the application is approved or denied for free or reduced-price meals.