USDA meal extension: All students can eat at school for free until Dec. 31

(KUTV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending its flexibilities through Dec. 31, allowing schools to continue their summer meal programs by serving free meals to all children.

So far, Jordan and Granite School Districts in Utah have taken advantage of the extension.

Sandy Riesgraf with Jordan School District said the option was offered to every school districts in the country--and Jordan decided to go for it.

"Why not take advantage of an opportunity to relieve financial stress for parents and students that may have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic," Riesgraf said.

Jordan School District began offering free meals to all enrolled students on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at all its school locations. Meaning, no students will be charged for breakfast or lunch in the cafeteria.

Online and at-home learners can pick up meals at specific times and locations designated by each school. That information can be found here.

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On Monday, free lunch and breakfast for the next morning will be available for curbside pickup at the following locations:

• Joel P. Jensen Middle Schools
• Elk Ridge Middle Schools
• South Hills Middle Schools

Meal service at these three locations will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Students under the age of 18 are eligible for the free next-day meals. They must be present at pickup to get a meal.

The free meals program will last until Dec. 31 or until the money is gone.

"USDA does not guarantee the length of this free meal waiver. They are committing to free meal service through December 31st, 2020 or until current funding runs out. Due to the potential expiration of this waiver, we are encouraging parents to continue applying for free and reduced meal eligibility so that they won’t experience a lapse in benefits," a press release from Jordan School District states.

Granite School District will begin offering free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students on Monday.

“There will be some challenges to navigate, but it’s such good news for our students and families,” Granite Child Nutrition director Dana Adams stated in a press release.

Meals will only be available to students--both in-person and online--who are enrolled in Granite schools. Distance learns can arrange meal pick-up times with their individual schools, according to a press release. For more information, visit graniteschools.org/nutritionservices.