Bridge Creek Public Schools offers breakfast and lunch to its students, but also has free and reduced-price meals available to students who qualify.
Breakfast for students this year costs $2.50 and lunch is $4. If your children qualify for free meals or for reducedprice meals they pay either nothing, or only 30¢ for lunch and 40¢ for breakfast.
Parents are asked to pick up an application packet to see if their children qualify. The more parents who fill out an application, regardless if their families qualify, the school their children attend are given higher priority by the federal government for this program.
The following are some common questions and answers to help parents with the application process.
1. WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS?
• All children in households receiving benefits from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are eligible for free meals.
• Foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
• C hildren p articipating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on the chart accompanying this story.
2. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS HOMELESS, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY?
Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and have not been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Susan Pittman 405 3873981 or email at [email protected] 3. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD?
No. Use one Free and Reduced- Price School Meals Application for all students in your household The school cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to Brenda Roberts, 2209 E Sooner Road, Blanchard, OK 73010, 405-387-4880 ext. 4005.
4. SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS?
No, but please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Brenda Roberts 2209 E Sooner Road, Blanchard, OK 73010, 405-387-4880 ext. 4005 or email [email protected].
5. CAN I APPLY ONLINE? No, You are encouraged to complete a paper application if you are able. The online application has to be printed and sent either via email or to the school.
Visit Bridgecreekbobcats. org to begin or to learn more about the online application process. Contact Brenda Roberts or Lyndsay Atkinson 405387-4880 ext. 4006 if you have any questions about the online application.
6. MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE?
Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals.
There are several other questions you may have or if more information is needed, contact the school. If your family needs more help, you can apply for SNAP.
