Food Access

Anyone who works in the food industry knows we have a nationwide food access problem that must be addressed.

Emergency situations highlight existing social inequities, including food access, and bring these conversations to the forefront of public attention. In emergency situations—such as natural disasters or a global pandemic—economic and social changes can dramatically affect people’s access to fresh, healthy, and adequate food. Latest USDA research shows that about 10% of all U.S. households experience food insecurity. Scholars estimate that the number of food insecure households rose to 23% during the pandemic, a number which is almost 30% for households with children.

It is clear that families and communities need more support than ever when faced with emergency situations.

Food Access

Anyone who works in the food industry knows we have a nationwide food access problem that must be addressed.

Emergency situations highlight existing social inequities, including food access, and bring these conversations to the forefront of public attention. In emergency situations—such as natural disasters or a global pandemic—economic and social changes can dramatically affect people’s access to fresh, healthy, and adequate food. Latest USDA research shows that about 10% of all U.S. households experience food insecurity. Scholars estimate that the number of food insecure households rose to 23% during the pandemic, a number which is almost 30% for households with children.

It is clear that families and communities need more support than ever when faced with emergency situations.

While government waivers can give districts what they need to continue running their programs in emergency situations, it is important for districts to learn about food access and how to support families in applying for free and reduced-price meals, information which will support school meal programs in the long run.

In this section we cover the impact of free and reduced applications for districts and families and how school meal programs can work with community partners. We also have created and gathered resources to encourage families to complete free and reduced applications.

Introduction to Waivers

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit schools, as well as residential child care institutions across the United States. As needed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services recognizes that waiving certain requirements of this program have the potential to drastically improve the effectiveness of school meal programs.

These waivers create flexibilities that help school food programs be able to operate in challenging situations more easily and can be for a variety of items from nutrition pattern exceptions to free meals for all students.

After the USDA passes national guidance, it is up to the states to decide how their individual school districts will operate under this waiver or guidance. States have the ability to not accept the waivers released by the USDA so we recommend districts always check with their state agency to determine what waivers have been accepted in their state.

As school districts move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic, the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs move back to regular service, and national Covid-19 Waivers are no longer in effect, it’s important to stay up to date on available opportunities and waivers within your state. Opportunities such as Healthy School Meals for All and California’s Non-Congregate Waivers for Unanticipated Closures are becoming available state-by-state across the nation where states are working to assist their school districts to feed more students.

For more resources and updated information on the 2023-24 school year vist:

- Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for SY2023-24

-NCSL: New State and Federal Policies Expand Access to Free School Meals

As school districts move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic, the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs move back to regular service, and national Covid-19 Waivers are no longer in effect, it’s important to stay up to date on available opportunities and waivers within your state. Opportunities such as Healthy School Meals for All and California’s Non-Congregate Waivers for Unanticipated Closures are becoming available state-by-state across the nation where states are working to assist their school districts to feed more students.

For more resources and updated information on the 2023-24 school year vist:

- Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for SY2023-24

-NCSL: New State and Federal Policies Expand Access to Free School Meals

Free & Reduced Applications

The National School Lunch Program operates as an entitlement program with reimbursement rates from the federal government that fund school district meal programs. An important part of this is the free and reduced applications that families are asked to fill out each fall. Families fill out information regarding school-aged children, household income and other details. All information provided is confidential and based on this information, low income families may qualify for reduced priced or free meals at school. Eligibility is based on requirements set yearly by the USDA. School food programs go through a verification process each year to check that the information gathered from families is accurate. This is a random selection process where families are asked to prove that the information they provided on their free/reduced application is correct.

Free & Reduced Applications

The National School Lunch Program operates as an entitlement program with reimbursement rates from the federal government that fund school district meal programs. An important part of this is the free and reduced applications that families are asked to fill out each fall. Families fill out information regarding school-aged children, household income and other details. All information provided is confidential and based on this information, low income families may qualify for reduced priced or free meals at school. Eligibility is based on requirements set yearly by the USDA. School food programs go through a verification process each year to check that the information gathered from families is accurate. This is a random selection process where families are asked to prove that the information they provided on their free/reduced application is correct.

This information not only provides a crucial source of food for families, but it also sets the reimbursement rates that school food departments will receive. In most cases, filling out a free and reduced application can also have benefits for families that extend beyond a free meal. Each district operates differently, but common benefits may include discounts on college testing, instrument rentals, sports and activity fees, internet access, child care fees, etc.

In some states, this information can even be tied to overall district funding. The higher the percentage of free and reduced funding, the greater the amount of state funding the district receives. This can be a win for all students as a district can receive additional funds for building repairs, technology needs, enrichment programs and more.

The free and reduced lunch application is a yearly process that is more important than most realize. Benefits of this program not only provide meals, but can help districts receive the funding they need to support their entire student population. Encouraging families to fill out a free and reduced lunch application and making the process as easy as possible can help support your district overall!

Community Partnerships

Food access is an important issue in our country at all times; however, during an emergency, the problem often becomes amplified. It is important to try to take care of your students and community, even during times when school may be closed.

Building partnerships with local organizations that work with food or health related topics can be very beneficial for your meal program. Start by identifying the key partners in your community. Some examples of these organizations may include: churches, community centers, health clinics, food banks, local Salvation Army or Red Cross chapters, farmers markets, local food policy groups and community gardens.

Community Partnerships

Food access is an important issue in our country at all times; however, during an emergency, the problem often becomes amplified. It is important to try to take care of your students and community, even during times when school may be closed.

Building partnerships with local organizations that work with food or health related topics can be very beneficial for your meal program. Start by identifying the key partners in your community. Some examples of these organizations may include: churches, community centers, health clinics, food banks, local Salvation Army or Red Cross chapters, farmers markets, local food policy groups and community gardens.

Network and collaborate on ideas and identify the needs of your community. Then work together to support one another, and work towards the greater goal of providing food and meals to families in need. And don’t forget to be creative! Think about ways you can use community partners to spread the word about food distribution sites or connecting with local farmers or restaurants that may be looking to support the community while getting rid of extra food.

Partnerships like these are important at all times, but having these connections and contacts available when a natural disaster or emergency strikes, can create invaluable support during a trying time. Partnerships will help increase the impact in your community, lower costs, increase strengths and efficiencies as a team, and ultimately help you be successful in the common goal of increased food access in your community.

Marketing & Outreach

Promoting free- and reduced-price school meals can improve a program’s participation and can support the entire district with funding and additional benefits. Even if your state has decided to take part in School Meals for All, it is likely that your district still wants families to fill out an application to support with district funding and provide other additional benefits to families. Therefore, we’ve compiled a selection of resources that districts can customize for their school meal program to make the marketing and application process that much easier!

Customizable Resources

Outreach

Parent Outreach Letters (USDA)
Newsletter template (Colorado Department of Education)
News Release (Colorado Department of Education)
Robocall script / Text copy (Colorado Department of Education)

Applications, Information, and Follow up

F/R Applications in English and translations (USDA)
Frequently Asked Questions (USDA)
Application guide for Elementary and middle school and high school (Colorado Department of Education)
- Note: Districts can use the first page of this document as a flyer for promoting F/R applications
Notification letter in English and translations (California Department of Education)

Graphics

Website and Newsletter banners in English and Spanish link (Colorado Department of Education)
Social media graphics in English and Spanish link (Colorado Department of Education)

Note: To use these images, right click on the image you would like to use and save or download it to your computer.