MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Beginning in 2021, all middle and high school students in Marion County Public Schools will receive free meals at no cost.
The change is credited to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, according to the county.
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Elementary students already receive free meals under the USDA National School Lunch Breakfast Program. The addition of other school-aged children allows for more students to regularly receive meals.
The school district reports it serves an average 14,000 breakfasts and 21,000 lunches per day. During the first 10 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the district provided nearly 475,000 student meals, according to MCPS.
The district is also offering curbside meal service for all schools to children 18 and under regardless of income.
Families picking up meals on behalf of a student must present valid identification such as the child’s ID card, day care center record, child’s passport or any legal document proving relations to the child.
Pick-up times vary by regional location and are listed below: