When New York students return to school this year, free school breakfast and lunch will be available for all! Join us in celebrating this inaugural year of statewide universal free school meals by spreading the word to students, families, and caregivers. |
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NEW: Universal School Meals Outreach Toolkit Our new toolkit includes resources to help schools communicate with students, families, and caregivers about universal school meals. Messaging promotes the availability of free school meals for all students and highlights the importance of submitting household income information, even when meals are free. Use these resources today and throughout the school year for your newsletters, websites, social media, robocalls/texts, letters/emails, and other channels. |
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NEW: How Schools Can Further Boost Access to Nutrition Universal school meals are a critical step toward ensuring all students are well-nourished and ready to learn. Schools can take additional steps to sustain and maximize universal school meals while also adding new programs to feed students after school and during summer break. Hunger Solutions New York has built a road map for schools to feed more kids—both in and out of school. |
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Summer EBT Deadlines Approaching Soon! Summer EBT is a food benefit program that helps low-income families with school-age children buy groceries. The benefits are intended for use during the summer when kids might not have access to school meals. Summer EBT benefits are still being issued, but important deadlines are approaching soon. - The deadline to apply for 2025 benefits is Thursday, September 4. Most children are automatically eligible, but some need to apply. If parents/caregivers have not received Summer EBT information from OTDA but believe their child is eligible, encourage them to apply today!
- Encourage families to spend their benefits soon. Summer EBT benefits expire 122 days after being issued, so families should use them right away.
- Spread the word about Summer EBT. Use NYS OTDA’s outreach resources to share information about this program with families.
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