FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Currently the district is utilizing food service personnel, administrators, and re-deployed support staff to prepare and deliver free breakfast and lunch to all children in the district age 18 and under in need. Delivery of 7 shelf-stable breakfasts, and 7 shelf-stable lunches will continue to be delivered by school bus on Fridays.
School meals are also distributed on Friday mornings from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at:
Snap Fitness, 3467 Blue Star Highway, Saugatuck, Ml 49453
The Old School House, 130 W Center St., Douglas, MI 49406
Families may request free breakfast and lunch by using this link www.surveymonkey.com/r/5CJ5CMC or by calling central office at 269-857-1444.
In addition, Children First Lakeshore is providing weekend meals that are delivered on Fridays. Families can use this link https://childrenfirstlakeshore.org/feedingthegap to sign up for weekend meals.
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT)
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) provides temporary funding to address emergency food needs and avert financial hardship for families affected by the pandemic.
The food assistance benefits will go to Michigan families with students ages 5-18 who are enrolled in the Michigan Department of Education program for students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. This includes families currently receiving Food Assistance Program benefits as well as those not currently enrolled in the program.
Families not currently receiving food assistance benefits will receive an EBT card.
Families who are not currently receiving EBT benefits but have students receiving free-and-reduced meals will receive a Bridge Card in the mail to the oldest student in the household. The benefits for all children in the home will be on the same card.
Eligible families not currently receiving food assistance benefits will receive in the mail a pre-loaded Electronic Benefits Transaction (EBT) card – known as a Bridge Card – issued under the name of the oldest student in the household.
The amount of EBT benefits will be no less than the total amount of free or reduced-cost school lunch benefits that the family would have received during the time that school is closed. The benefits will include $193.80 per eligible student to cover the months of March and April and an additional $182.40 per student to cover May and June combined.
Prior to receiving the card, families will get a letter from MDHHS describing how to use their EBT card, how to set up their PIN, and other pertinent information about food assistance benefits. EBT cards can be used much like a debit card for food items only purchased in-person at SNAP retailers
Families who are not already receiving food assistance benefits should start receiving MDHHS notices in the mail late next week, with the EBT cards arriving by the first week of May.
Families currently receiving food assistance benefits will receive additional benefits on their EBT Bridge Cards.
Eligible families currently receiving food assistance benefits will be issued a supplement to their existing benefits. Supplemental benefits can be used as families would typically use their EBT card. Families who already receive food assistance benefits should begin receiving their additional benefits next week – with the payments being staggered over a 10-day period.
Families can use their pre-loaded EBT cards at any retailer that accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT benefits. You can find a list of SNAP retailers on the SNAP Retailers website.