TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture accepted a request to allow all students in 48 counties subject to a FEMA Major Disaster Declaration access to free school meals through the National School Lunch Program.
These changes, in effect Sept. 18 – Oct. 20, will potentially impact over 3,000 schools and 2.5 million children.
The department is requesting additional flexibilities as counties are being declared major disaster areas and as requests are submitted by counties. As such, additional counties could be added to the waiver in the coming days.
All students in the following counties can access free school meals through the National School Lunch Program from Sept.18 – Oct. 20, 2017:
- Charlotte
- Collier
- Hillsborough
- Lee
- Manatee
- Miami-Dade
- Monroe
- Pinellas
- Broward
- Palm Beach
- Glades
- Hendry
- Sarasota
- Clay
- Duval
- Flagler
- Putnam
- St. Johns
- Brevard
- Citrus
- DeSoto
- Hardee
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Indian River
- Lake
- Marion
- Martin
- Okeechobee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Pasco
- Polk
- St. Lucie
- Seminole
- Sumter
- Volusia
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bradford
- Columbia
- Dixie
- Gilchrist
- Lafayette
- Levy
- Nassau
- Suwannee
- Union
Parents or guardians can find additional information here or contact the department at 1-800-504-6609 or InfoFNW@FreshFromFlorida.com.WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON-
- Tampa Bay area students begin heading back to school after Hurricane Irma
- Hurricane Maria expected to become major hurricane tonight or early tomorrow
- A guide to FEMA aide for Hurricane Irma victims
- Target 8: Duke Energy billing shocks power customers
- Lady Gaga postpones European leg of world tour
- Florida man leaves toddler outside overnight during Hurricane Irma
- Florida survivors can now register for disaster assistance from FEMA
