Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our school offers healthy meals each day. Starting school year 2023-24, we are joining Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program. All students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Application for Educational Benefits is still important! Your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other meal programs. And your home internet provider may offer discounts based on this.
To apply, complete the Application for Educational Benefits and return it to:
East Central School
ATTN Kati Thomas
61085 State Hwy 23
Finlayson, MN 55735
Who should complete this application? Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster, homeless, migrant, and runaway children qualify without reporting household income. Alternatively, children can qualify if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the instructions.
COMMON QUESTIONS:
- I get WIC or Medical Assistance. Can my children qualify? Children in households participating in WIC or Medical Assistance do not automatically qualify. Children may be eligible depending on other household financial information. Please fill out an application.
- Who should I include as household members? Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).
- May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for you to complete an application.
- What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get overtime only sometimes. For seasonal work, write in the total annual income.
- Will the income information or case number I give be checked? It may be. We may also ask you to send written proof.
- How will the information be kept? Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval, will be protected as private data. For more information, see the back page of the Application for Educational Benefits.
- If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. Please complete an application at any time if your income goes down, your household size goes up, or you start getting SNAP, MFIP, or FDPIR benefits.
If you have other questions or need help, call 320-245-6018
Sincerely,
Kati Thomas
East Central Schools
Food Service Supervisor
[email protected]