USDA food program extended, offers free meals daily for all children

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the Summer Food Service Program through Dec. 31 or until available federal funding runs out.

What this means for families is that all children 18 years old or younger will be able to receive breakfast and lunch meals at no cost for the entire seven days of each week.

Hardin County Schools Director Michael Davis noted that children do not have to be enrolled in Hardin County Schools to receive take-home meals.

If traditional students are attending school in person that week they will eat three days of meals at school, so they will only receive four days of meals at pick-up.

Meals for the entire week will be distributed every Monday from 10-11:30 a.m. at each school site. If parents cannot come get the meals during this time, they can call the cafeteria manager at the school where they are scheduled to pick up and schedule a different time during school hours.

Meals will need to be pre-ordered by completing the Meal Survey on Hardin County Schools’ website at www.hardincoschools.com by Wednesday at midnight of each week.

“This will help us to ensure that we have enough meals prepared for everyone,” Davis explained.

Meals do not have to be picked up at the school the student attends. Students do not have to be present to pick up meals as long as parent has students’ names and picks them up at the school that they registered for on the Meal Survey. Parents without internet access can call Kristen Tomlinson or Cheryl Cochran at 731-925-3943 to pre-order meals.