Looking for something to do while your student(s) are in school? Sign up to be a cafeteria sub!!!! Great flexible hours that will fit right into your schedule!
Contact Barry Sbordy,
Director of Food Services, for more information
[email protected]
Free School Meals Extended Through SY 2023-2024
FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS
Children need healthy meals to learn. Leicester Public Schools is providing free meals to all students under the USDA’s Child Nutrition Programs (Seamless Summer Option or Summer Food Service Program). Children enrolled in the district are eligible for these free meals regardless of eligibility through June 30, 2023. Even though meals are free, it is recommended that school districts still collect applications and notify households of the results.
There are fee based programs throughout the District where fees can be waived or reduced if you qualify for Free/ Reduced Meals. Qualifying for free meals because your family has met the qualifying factors is different than your student receiving free meals because of USDA's extension. Students who are getting free meals because of the extension and haven't qualified for free meals by applying or being Directly Certified by the State aren't eligible for fee reductions or P-EBT benefits
If you are not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and have been approved for free school meals, you may be eligible for SNAP which provides monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries to Massachusetts residents who qualify. Find out if you are eligible for SNAP today by calling Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 and a counselor can help you apply over the phone. You can also apply on your own online at DTA Connect: https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/apply
FAQ:
Q: Should I apply for free/reduced meals? Why apply if all students are already receiving free breakfast and lunch?
A: Yes, if you feel your family would qualify or want to see if your family qualifies you should fill out and submit an application, because if your family's application is approved you may receive additional benefits
I understand this can all be very confusing, so please, if you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance to your family please reach out to me at [email protected] or call 508-892-7030, Option 2, x5224.
As always thank you for your support!
Barry Sbordy, Director of Food Services
INFORMATION ABOUT P-EBT CARDS- Pursuant to funding approvals for specific time periods, Massachusetts families with school aged children who qualify for free or reduced price school meals under the National School Lunch Program are eligible for P-EBT benefits for COVID related student absences. Families receiving DTA benefits will see eligible funds added to existing EBT card, while those families not actively receiving DTA benefits will receive a P-EBT card in the mail, for each eligible student in the household. The PIN for each card is the identified student’s year of birth. Once you get the card, do not throw it away, as additional funds will be added through the school year, and may continue for extended period. P-EBT benefits can be used at any store that accepts SNAP, and most retailers have signs stating they accept SNAP or EBT. Benefits will carry over from month to month, and will be available for a year.
For more information, contact Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 800-645-8333 (TTY 800-1292). The hotline is open Monday-Friday 8 am- 7 pm, and Saturday 10 am-2 pm.
Project Bread P-EBT Fact sheet
Help with P-EBT Card use
Foodservice Staff:
Barry Sbordy, Director of Food Services
[email protected]
508-892-7030 Option 2 x5224
Lisa Johnson, High School Cafeteria Manager
508-892-7030 Option 2 for High School, Option 6 for Cafeteria
Tracy Mandella, Middle School Cafe Manager
508-892-7030 Option 1 for Middle School, Option 6 for Cafeteria
Robyn Griffith, Elementary School Cafe Manager
508-892-7050 X115
School Lunch Prepayment System
Leicester Food Services uses www.myschoolbucks.com for lunch prepayment. Your login and password remain the same and your information was automatically transferred. For the notification of low balances through email you will have to log into the myschoolbucks website and set this information yourself.
We are asking for your patience and support as we navigate new challenges. As you may be aware, we are currently faced with unprecedented shortages of food and packaging materials, massive delays or cancellations of deliveries, and department labor shortages. Nationwide shortages and delays have affected availability of certain food items, leading to substitutions of menu items we’ve been able to offer regularly in the past. These supply issues are occurring throughout the country and are especially challenging for school systems, due to the quantity of meals we serve and the nutrition standards we follow.
All of this means that we may need to make quick substitutions to our menu based upon what we are able to acquire. We know that this affects students, and we are doing our best to provide updates about menu changes when possible as soon as we identify an issue.
Please know that our number one priority continues to be providing healthy, nutritious, and appetizing meals for your children. We love seeing them every day and appreciate your support and patience as we continue to offer meals at no charge for all students. The good news is that free breakfast and lunch will continue throughout the school year, so please stick with us while we face yet another challenge. Your participation helps our program stay strong, and we look forward to serving you!
Thank you for your understanding and patience
The Food Service Staff
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.