USDA meal extension providing free school meals in area

The United States Department of Agriculture announced Monday it is extending its free children's summer meal service to December, and it is being used at some local schools, although it does not apply to some others.

"The extension will allow us to continue to provide meals to our students as we navigate through the pandemic," Havre Public Schools Interim Superintendent Craig Mueller said. "Our food service staff has done an amazing job transitioning to serving meals to students in an entirely new way. I want to thank them for their efforts to provide meals to our students."

  He said Grab-and-Go breakfast and lunch remain available for pick up on school mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. from Havre High School.

Chinook Public Schools is working to implement this extension into their schools.

"I think it would be a great service to many of our families who have some employment and financial struggles," Superintendent Darrin Hannum said.

He said the school district is working to have it set up by the end of the week.  

Turner Public School does not qualify for this extension program.

"We typically do not qualify for those sorts of programs because our free and reduced numbers aren't high enough," Superintendent Tony Warren said.

He added that their district does not have a summer food program. 

Harlem Public Schools already provide free lunches that is not related to the USDA extension.

"One hundred percent of our students received free breakfasts and lunches," Superintendent Doreen Warren said.

She said meals are being distributed at five different meal distribution points: Harlem Elementary School, Junior/Senior High, Fort Belknap Indian Community Center, People's Creek landing  and the county line.

The Havre Daily News contacted other districts in the area but had not received responses by printing deadline this morning. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.

In a press release this week, USDA said it will attempt to provide as much help as possible, but it must have congressional funding to provide the waivers and cannot set a later date than December at this point.

"As our nation re-opens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy and nutritious food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs, and (Monday), we are also extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially,"  Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in the release. "We appreciate the incredible efforts by our school foodservice professionals year in and year out, but this year we have an unprecedented situation. This extension of summer program authority will employ summer program sponsors to ensure meals are reaching all children - whether they are learning in the classroom or virtually - so they are fed and ready to learn, even in new and ever-changing learning environments."