Welcome to Walpole School Nutrition!

COVID-19 Information:

Dear Walpole Community Members,

The Walpole Public Schools and the Walpole Food Pantry continue to provide assistance to families whose children require additional food throughout this unprecedented period of school closure. Our joint goal is to support families in the most flexible manner possible. Therefore, the Walpole School Nutrition Department, working together with the Walpole Food Pantry, will continue to provide any family whose child(ren) receive Free or Reduced Meal benefits the opportunity to obtain free foods. These alternative food items are being offered in place of meals that would have been provided via the school meals program in an effort to expand a family's access to food. 

Due to the rapidly growing pandemic our community is facing, we are modifying our food distribution process to ensure the safety of our staff and receiving families. Food packages will now be distributed out of the Walpole High School (275 Common Street, Walpole) weekly 10:00 a.m. -1:00 PM. The next distribution will be on Friday May 22nd. 

Families will pick up their food packages at the high school. Please drive through the back parking lot by the school Cafeteria Doors (Door # 16). We will have signage on the designated door. You will be asked to stay in your vehicle and open your trunk. Then a school representative will place your food bags into your vehicle. All food handlers will be wearing masks and gloves for their safety and yours. 

Please know that this change is not intended to cause family further hardship but is necessary to ensure our community stays healthy and well. If your family faces a serious hardship that prevents you from being able to pick up your food packages from the Walpole High School please reach out to the Walpole School Nutrition Department at wpsnutrition@walpole.k12.ma.us or 774-315-5640 (please feel free to leave a message) to explore alternative options. 

If not already signed up to receive a food package but would like to, please respond to the following email: wpsnutrition@walpole.k12.ma.us or call us at 774-315-5640 to be added. This is essential to ensure we have enough food packages prepared for receiving families. Likewise, if you have been receiving food packages but no longer need them, a courtesy update would be much appreciated so we can distribute the food to other families!

As mentioned before, we recognize that for families of our Boston resident students, the Walpole Food Pantry is not a local resource. Here is a link to support options that are available in the Boston metro area. Click Here.

In addition, counselors at Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 are available to connect you to food resources as well as provide information about elder meals programs and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. The Hotline will continue to operate Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm, and can provide information in 160 languages.  There is also a dedicated line for those that are hearing impaired. If you have any questions feel free to contact:

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.

Walpole Public Schools in collaboration with the Walpole Food Pantry is exploring offering a BackPack Program during the 2019-2020 school year at Walpole Schools. The BackPack Program is designed to provide food to children that would benefit from supplemental nourishment over the weekend. The food is discreetly packed in the students’ backpacks each Friday afternoon (or at the last day of the school week), ensuring that students are better prepared to learn the following week. There is no cost associated to participate in this program. If you are interested in participating in the BackPack Program, please fill out the form found on the "Meal Applications" webpage listed with the other pdfs.