Dear Parent/Guardian:
Swansea Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. In School Year 2022-2023, all students will receive free breakfast and lunch at school. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has provided money to do this for one year through the State budget.
So yes, even though meals (not ala carte snacks & beverages, such as bottled water, juice, & milk)) are free of charge once again, we still need to receive your meal benefit applications, which play a critical role in record-keeping necessary for districts to receive federal and state supporting funds. Approved applications also qualify households for other benefits, such as: SY22-23 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits if the federal Public Health Emergency is extended and Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) broadband discounts. Approved SY22-23 free or reduced-price benefits will also carryover 30 operational days into the next school year if Massachusetts doesn’t continue to fund universal free meals that year.
If you are not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and have been approved for free or reduced-price school meals, you may be eligible for SNAP, which provides monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries to Massachusetts residents who qualify. Find out if you are eligible for SNAP today by calling Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 and a counselor can help you apply over the phone. You can also apply on your own online at DTA Connect: https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/apply
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions file below.
For questions regarding the application for Free & Reduced Meals, please contact Lynn Nunes at 508-675-1197.
