Jackson County Schools Offering Free Meals to Students

Schools within the Jackson County School District will once again offer free meals to all students during the 2018-2019 school year.

Jennifer Mitchell is the School Nutrition Program Supervisor for JCSD. She said the free meals will especially be beneficial to low-income families in the county.

“It guarantees them (the students) at least the opportunity to receive a meal at no charge, which saves parents money from having to send lunch money,” Mitchell said. “I guess you could say it helps lessen the burden for parents and families having to provide food. We help with that.”

Mitchell said meals are provided through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision. According to the USDA, schools and school districts located in low-income areas are eligible for the meal program.

“That permits us to provide the meal service at no charge regardless of economic status, so it’s a really good thing,” Mitchell said.

Jackson County Schools will provide snacks during after-school programs to students as well through the Super Snack program thanks to the Putnam County School System.

“We’ve partnered with Putnam County School Nutrition for several years long before I came into this job,” Mitchell said. “It’s a mutual benefit for both of us.”

Students all across Jackson County were back in session Monday to begin the new academic year.