The USDA is extending a program so all students can get free breakfast and lunch through the end of the year. The Summer Food Service Program’s extension will also provide ways for school districts to send home meals with students if they are participating in online learning or hybrid learning. Highland Food Director Rachel Cerny (Sir-Nee) was relieved to know that struggling families will have their students fed, regardless of their situation, “It just removes that barrier of having to have that money in the lunch account. If the kid walks in the door, we can feed them. Or if the parents sign up online to take the meals home, we can send those meals home regardless of what their lunch balance is. That’s especially important now because some families may be struggling financially due to COVID, parents being laid off, or have reduced hours, that kind of thing. It really helps stretch that grocery budget. This helps the parents out giving them five breakfasts and lunches, that’s less that they have to worry about getting the groceries on the table.”

The program will continue until December 31, 2020 or until funding for the program runs out. Highland parents can sign up for the take home meal program on the Highland website and either have meals sent home with students or pick up the meals on Thursdays or Fridays.