The Hilton Central School District announced all students enrolled at Village Elementary School and Merton Williams Middle School are able to receive free breakfast and lunch at school as of December 1, 2023.
The free meals are a result of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) expanding access to the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), coupled with additional funding by New York State. CEP allows eligible schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to offer school meals at no charge to all students. Free meals through CEP are approved for Village Elementary School and Merton Williams Middle School through June 30, 2024.
No further action is required for families to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. Meal prices automatically changed on December 1. Any meal charges prior to this date must still be paid in full.
Free meals under CEP apply only to a complete breakfast and/or lunch. A complete lunch consists of at least three of the five food components offered (milk, grain, protein, fruit, and vegetable). A la carte items must still be paid for.
“We are excited to provide free meals to all students at Village Elementary School and Merton Williams Middle School, with hopes of adding more schools in the future,” said Scott Ziobrowski, Hilton Central School District Food Service Director. “Research shows students perform better in school when they have access to a healthy breakfast and lunch. Offering free meals also decreases food insecurity and improves the physical and mental health of students.”
For more information, please visit https://www.hilton.k12.ny.us/page/food-service.
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