Welcome to Walpole School Nutrition!

Meal Support For Your Family:

Remote Learner Lunches and Food packages will be distributed out of the Walpole High School (275 Common Street, Walpole) weekly

10:00 AM -1:00 PM. The next distribution will be on Wednesday, November 18th (See below for more information).

November Meal Distribution Schedule

Wednesday, November 18th 10-1pm (providing frozen turkeys while supplies last)

No Distribution Wednesday, November 25th

Important School Nutrition News

While the start of the school year looks a little different for everyone, I wanted to share with you some good news that schools nationwide received last week. The USDA extended a waiver that allows schools to serve free breakfast and lunch to ALL students, for the entire 20/21 school year. We are thrilled with this news as it means that we will be able to provide all Walpole Public School students with nutritious and nourishing food for free that will support them, both in school and at home.

What this means for your family and for Walpole Public Schools –

-       Your children, ages 0-21, will receive a healthy breakfast and lunch every school day, at no cost, in a safe and welcoming environment. This applies to students who are attending classes in school or virtual classes at home, or a hybrid combination of these models.

-          You may pick up meals for your children who are Hybrid or remote learners at Walpole High School on Wednesday’s between 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. or other local meal sites that are distributing meals.

-          It allows Walpole School Nutrition to provide the most nourishing and appetizing meals possible for your children. When your children eat school meals, it helps the school system by providing federal funds to the district. The more meals we serve, the more funding we receive, allowing us to focus on meal quality, variety and innovative practices (new recipes, frozen take home meals, etc.). If your children have never before participated in school meals, consider trying the program this year!

-       It helps you save time and money. By allowing us to prepare meals for your children you don’t have to plan and shop for your children’s breakfast and lunch each school day.

Families who feel they may qualify for meal benefits  should still submit a household application to determine eligibility to qualify for any additional benefits.  Our on-line meal application is available at: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

In addition, we also encourage families to apply for SNAP benefits. SNAP provides monthly cash benefits (on an EBT card) to purchase groceries for eligible families. To apply for SNAP, visit www.startwithsnap.org  or call the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333. If you are unsure whether your family is eligible, the FoodSource Hotline can assist you with eligibility questions. Families approved for SNAP are directly eligible to receive free meals at school and do not need to fill out an application for free and reduced price meals.

Please reach out with any questions you might have. Your children are the reason we do our jobs and we are here to make sure that they are fueled with good food!

Sincerely,

Maria Hall MSRD    Director, School Nutrition

Venessa Mitsis       Assistant Director, School Nutrition

Maria Hall
School Nutrition Director
wpsnutrition@walpole.k12.ma.us
774-315-5640 – please feel free to leave a message

Finally, if any community member would like to make a financial donation to the Food Pantry to support the good work this organization does for our community, scroll to the bottom of the page to and click the “Donate” icon or mail a check
payable to the “Walpole Food Pantry” to the Walpole Food Pantry, 135 School Street, Walpole, MA 02081.  The Walpole Food Pantry is a tax-exempt organization and your donation will be tax deductible to the extent the law
allows. We thank you for your consideration and support as we navigate these unchartered waters. Stay well!

The Walpole Public Schools

The Walpole Food Pantry

Massachusetts has recently begun the roll-out of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (or P-EBT) which will provide benefits to families with children who would receive free or reduced-price school meals, if not for school closures associated with COVID-19.

P-EBT will help many families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, who may currently be struggling and who may not otherwise be able to receive assistance.

For more information on P-EBT please Click Here

The Walpole School Nutrition Program offers healthy meals every school day. All meals are planned by a Registered Dietitian with a focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables and foods that are low in fat. Planned menus reflect the Nutrition Standards required by the USDA and Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 

We provide students with access to a variety of affordable and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students. We support learning by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness practices. We believe good nutrition and learning go hand in hand.