District Encourages Families to Submit Free/Reduced Meal Application
West Fargo, ND – (November 2, 2020) – West Fargo Public Schools is launching a three-week marketing campaign to encourage district families to complete the application for the National School Lunch Program. Enrollment in the program determines the district’s free/reduced meal rate, a federally recognized measure of poverty and low-income status that is also used to determine funding, fees, and grant availability for the district and its families.
USDA WAIVER IMPACTING APPLICATION RATE
In early October, the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an extension to a waiver that allows the district to continue to serve free meals through the remainder of the academic year. “The availability of this waiver has diminished the number of families submitting a free/reduced meal application this year,” explained Dana Rieth, Director of Food Service at West Fargo Public Schools. “Through this campaign, we hope to inform families of the value of completing the application. The application, and subsequent enrollment into the National School Lunch Program, aids families beyond free or reduced priced meals. Students eligible for free or reduced meals also receive waivers on school activity fees, college application fees, and national standardized test fees associated with the ACT, SAT, and AP Exams.”
The Food Service Department and Public Relations Department have spent the past few weeks creating a marketing campaign that will utilize social media and district publications to communicate with families the importance of the meal application. “Primarily, our families rely on it for meals, but the district’s free/reduced rate is calculated based on all approved meal applications within West Fargo Public Schools. Our messaging is going to focus on encouraging families to complete the application but will also identify areas of the district’s operations that rely on an accurate free/reduced rate, such as instructional grants and Title I funding,” said Stephanie Hansen, Public Relations Specialist. “At the end of last week, 2,440 students had a meal application on file. Our goal is to surpass 3,500 by the end of the month, and to ultimately have the majority of income-qualifying families complete an application.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To be considered for free or reduced meals through the National School Lunch Program, families are required to apply each year. The application can be completed online or through a paper application that is available from the West Fargo Public Schools Food Service Department.
Of the 2,440 West Fargo Public Schools students who submitted a free/reduced meal application this year, 93.6% qualified for the program.
Those needing assistance in completing the application can call the Food Service Department at (701) 499-1984 or review the Food Service Department website for instructions.
ABOUT THE WFPS FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT
Students who eat nutritious, balanced diets are better prepared to learn and succeed in school. The Food Service Department at West Fargo Public Schools supports learning by providing access to healthy, affordable meals to students in each school building. Meals are designed to provide variety and assist in developing life-long healthy eating habits. In 2018 – 2019, the department served nearly two million meals to students throughout West Fargo Public Schools.
All menus meet or exceed USDA guidelines, with age-appropriate meal patterns based on the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Meals are prepared and served in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
The National School Lunch Program provides nutritionally balanced, reduced-cost or free meals to children each school day. The program is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or the Temporary Assistance Program for Needy Families (TANF) can get free meals regardless of their family’s income. Also, children can get free or reduced-price meals if their household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Chart.
###