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The United States Department of Agriculture announced the extension of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) on August 31st, 2020. Minnesota schools received specific guidance from the MN Department of Education about this program on September 4th. In order to abide by federal and state regulation, additional planning time was required by the Nutrition Services Department to implement the necessary changes to offer free meals to all children ages 1-18 year old.

Unfortunately, no. Funding is not available to reimburse families for meals served on these days.

Meals will be provided free of charge until December 31, 2020 OR until the funding for the Summer Food Service Program runs out, as determined by the USDA. Families will be given as much notice as possible when meals will begin to be charged based on the student’s meal benefit eligibility.

All children ages 1-18 years old are able to receive meals at no cost starting September 14th until December 31, 2020, or until funding runs out.

In-Person Learning: Students will receive breakfast and lunch meals using the same process that was started at the beginning of the school year but they will receive these meals at no cost starting Monday, September 14th.

Hybrid Learning for Secondary Students: Students will have the opportunity to take free meal bundles home on their last in-person learning day to be eaten on their distance learning days. Meals are available at the end of the school day. Students in Group 1 typically pick up to-go meals on Tuesday and students in Group 2 pick up to-go meals on Friday.

Distance Learning: Meal bundles are still available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at the following locations:

McKinley Elementary - 1050 22nd Street NE - Main Entrance / Door #1

Owatonna Middle School - 500 15th Street NE -  Main Entrance / Door #1

Owatonna High School - 333 E School St - Door # 16

Meal bundles contain multiple days worth of meals.
Families can go to any of the three locations to pick up meals for all children ages 1-18 years. To assist us with meal planning, please complete a weekly form available here to sign up for distance learning meal bundles.

Meals for Non-Enrolled Children: Meals can be picked up for any child age 1-18 in the Owatonna community and surrounding area at no cost starting Tuesday, September 15th. Meal pick up is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at the following locations:

McKinley Elementary - 1050 22nd Street NE - Main Entrance / Door #1

Owatonna Middle School - 500 15th Street NE -  Main Entrance / Door #1

Owatonna High School - 333 E School St - Door # 16

Meal bundles contain multiple days worth of meals. Families can go to any of the three locations to pick up meals for all children ages 1-18 years old. To assist us with meal planning, please complete a weekly form available here to sign up for meal bundles.

 

YES! If you have not already applied for meal benefits this school year, please submit an application. Once the SFSP program funds are gone, meals will be charged based on the student’s meal benefit eligibility.

Contact your local senator and representative to express your support for the extension of the Summer Food Service Program throughout the 20-21 school year. To send a prewritten letter to you local senator and representatives, click on any or ALL of the following links: 

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Action Center - Tell USDA to ensure kids have access to healthy meals throughout school year 2020-21

Food Research & Action Center - Endorse the Universal School Meals Program Act

School Nutrition Association: Action Network - Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act