The state Department of Education Grab-and-Go school meals program will be returning for the fall semester.
The program will operate at 203 public schools beginning Oct. 12 and continuing through Dec. 18 providing free meals to children ages 18 and younger. The meals are available to children regardless of whether they are enrolled at the distribution site, are public school students, or are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program.
Unlike during the summer, meal distribution will be at lunchtime only. Parents and guardians should contact schools for meal serving times.
Pick-ups will include one lunch for that day and one breakfast for the following, day per child. Distribution will be available Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and designated school breaks. Dine-in options will not be offered.
Meals may be picked up without children present but parents and guardians must provide one of the following verification documents: official letter or email from school listing child(ren) enrolled, recent student report card(s), attendance record(s) from parent portals of school websites, birth certificate(s) of child(ren), student ID card(s), driver’s permit(s)/license(s) for high school students or state-issued identification for the child.
The program is made possible through U.S. Department of Agriculture funding, which provided nationwide waivers for the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) to extend free meals to children through December. Between March and July, 1.3 million meals were provided at nearly 80 public schools and community locations.
West Hawaii schools participating in the program are Holualoa Elementary, Honaunau Elementary, Honokaa Elementary, Honokaa High & Intermediate, Hookena Elementary, Kahakai Elementary, Ka‘u High & Pahala Elementary, Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino, Kealakehe Elementary, Kealakehe High, Kealakehe Intermediate, Kohala Elementary, Kohala High, Kohala Middle, Konawaena Elementary, Konawaena High, Konawaena Middle, Naalehu Elementary & Intermediate, Waikoloa Elementary and Waimea Elementary.
For prescribed meal modifications, send an email to specialdiets@k12.hi.us or call (808) 784-5500.