Free, cheap meals at local schools

Hundreds of students throughout the Flathead Valley won’t have to pay full price for school breakfast and lunch this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs offer free or reduced-cost meals to students whose families meet certain federal income guidelines.

Districts that participate in those programs will send home applications for free and reduced-price meals and letters with information about the program. Families must fill out the application and return it to school.

If a household is eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, it will receive a direct certification letter from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. That letter may be used in place of the school meals application.

Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Evergreen, Kalispell, Kila, Marion, Olney-Bissell, Smith Valley, Somers-Lakeside, Swan River and Whitefish schools offer hot breakfast and lunch. Helena Flats and West Valley offer hot lunch; West Valley also has a “grab and go” breakfast option for students.

While not officially part of the federal school lunch program, parents in the Creston and West Glacier districts provide lunches once or twice a week. Those districts are willing to help provide lunches for students who might not be able to afford them; parents should talk to the school offices about free or reduced rates.

Cayuse Prairie, Deer Park, Fair-Mont-Egan and Pleasant Valley do not offer hot breakfast or lunch.

Children from households whose income is at or below levels determined by the federal government may be eligible for free or reduced-cost meals.

For additional information, families should contact their school offices.

Household size    Annual    Monthly    Weekly    Annual    Monthly    Weekly

1    $14,157    $1,180    $273    $20,147    $1,679    $388

2    $19,123    $1,594    $368    $27,214    $2,268    $524

3    $24,089    $2,008    $464    $34,281    $2,857    $660

4    $29,055    $2,422    $559    $41,348    $3,446    $796

5    $34,021    $2,836    $655    $48,415    $4,035    $932

6    $38,987    $3,249    $750    $55,482    $4,624    $1,067

7    $43,953    $3,663    $846    $62,549    $5,213    $1,203

8    $48,919    $4,077    $941    $69,616    $5,802    $1,339

Each additional person    $4,966    $414    $96    $7,067    $589    $136