Gates Chili cafeterias have always been full of hustle and bustle, especially during mealtime, but this year, they’re also full of free, nutritious meals for kids, thanks to a new federal and state partnership.
That partnership is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a program that allows every Gates Chili student to receive a free breakfast and lunch at school every day in the 2023-24 school year.
“The availability of free meals for all students is certainly a proud moment for our school district,” said Superintendent of Schools Christopher Dailey. “It removes barriers that hinder success and reflects our commitment to equity, inclusivity, and the well-being of our entire school community.”
“Students perform better in school when they have had a healthy breakfast and nutritious lunch,” said Janice Phillips, director of school nutrition. “We are thrilled to be able to provide this resource at no cost to families this school year.”
Gates Chili qualified for this program due to its percentage of free and reduced meal recipients—more than 56% of students districtwide. While free meals are a certain advantage for families who traditionally qualify for free and reduced meals, the availability of free meals has also been an asset to district parents like Kathy Phelan. Her family has never qualified for free or reduced meals, but her three Gates Chili students always buy lunch at school, so she has always needed to budget for those meals in addition to groceries. Having access to free meals at school has had a major impact on her family.
“When you consider that the price of groceries is already inflated, paying for lunches for three kids every day can be almost as much as a monthly car payment,” she said. “With a family of seven at home, it’s such a relief to not have to budget for lunches.”
School meals also come with an added health benefit, meeting several nutritional requirements, and making them a great option for any family. Each meal is packed with protein, whole grains and fresh fruit or vegetables. The cost-free meals, coupled with the nutritional value, has resulted in a major spike in meals served already this year. In just the first two months of school, there was a 47% increase in meals served year over year. For students like middle-schooler Liam H., it’s not about the nutritional value or the bottom line; it’s about the food.
“The food is great and I just love it,” Liam shared. “The pizza is my favorite; the sauce is so good. I get breakfast almost every day too.”
Families do not have to complete any forms for their student(s) to receive free meals at school.
However, families are strongly encouraged to complete the Income Eligibility Form, which is tied to other important benefits for students. These include fee waivers for advanced placement exams, dual-credit tuition assistance, state funding and more. State funding helps offset costs that keep local taxes reasonable while providing great programs and services for students.
To learn more about free meals and/or complete the Income Eligibility Form for other benefits, go to http://gateschili.org/FreeMeals.
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