Staff Reports
Students who go to school in counties that were hit hard by Hurricane Irma will be getting meals on the federal government’s tab.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Monday announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture accepted his request to allow students in 48 counties subject to a FEMA Major Disaster Declaration to receive free school meals through the National School Lunch Program.
These changes, in effect Sept. 18-Oct. 20, will potentially affect over 3,000 schools and 2.5 million children, a press release said: “The department is requesting additional flexibilities as counties are being declared major disaster areas and as requests are submitted by counties. As such, additional counties could be added to the waiver in the coming days.”
The waiver includes these counties:
Charlotte, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pinellas, Broward, Palm Beach, Glades, Hendry, Sarasota, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Brevard, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, St. Lucie, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia, Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Nassau, Suwannee and Union.
Parents or guardians can find additional information here or contact the department at 1-800-504-6609 or by emailing [email protected].
