When Thompson School District students return to school this fall, not all will receive free lunch as they have for most of the pandemic, after federal funding for a program that provided universal lunches expired. Friday was the last day of free summer lunches, which is paid for by state money.
The free summer lunch program, which offered free lunches to any child, not just Thompson students, between the age of 18 months to 18 years old, was available Monday through Friday throughout June and July.
“It’s awesome that children can come and have their free lunch,” said Virginia Bourland, the secretary at Monroe Elementary School who also brings her children to eat lunch every day during the summer. “Every single day, I know they’re going to be fed.”
In addition to Monroe Elementary, the summer program was offered at Winona Elementary, Walt Clark Middle School and Fickel Park in Berthoud.
State funds pay for the summer lunch program, and federal money has also paid for free lunches for students at schools nationwide since the beginning of the pandemic. That program has now expired, though, after Congress failed to pass an extension to the waivers that provided universal free lunches.
As a result, students will once again be charged for school lunches when the school year begins in two weeks.
Free and reduced school lunch programs will still be available, but unlike the pandemic-era program, are based on income and require an application process.
The district plans to send out mailers in the coming weeks with guidance on how to apply for the free and reduced lunch program, according to district public information officer Michael Hausmann. In addition to free and reduced prices for lunches, individuals who qualify can also receive other benefits like reduced school fees.
