Agency to take part in child, adult food program
The Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services Agency will participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program this year, meaning the children of Canyon Springs, McGrath, Newhall and Mint Canyon elementary schools will have the opportunity to enjoy nutritious meals at a free or reduced rate.
The program is federally funded and provides nutritious food to children and adults who receive care at various institutions. The program is administered by each state’s Department of Education and provides meals and snacks to more than 3.3 million children each day, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s website.
The meals and snacks, which include a variety of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, are provided to children as part of their after-school or day care programs and follow guidelines from the Healthy, HungerFree Kids Act.
Agencies are reimbursed for the meals at free, reduced-price or full rate depending on children’s family income and in a similar manner to the reimbursement structure for free or reduced-price meals.
The income scale, however, does not apply to households that are eligible for CalFresh, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations because children of these households are automatically eligible for free meal benefits.
There are no application forms for parents or guardians to fill out, and all after-school meals and snacks are served in group settings, at no cost to the child or to the child’s parents or guardians.
For questions or more information, visit scvschoolnutrition.org or contact 661-295-1574.