Food Service

A student must choose at LEAST 3 of 5 components available for the school lunch price. Meat/Meat Alternate, Choice of Vegetable, Choice of Fruit, Grain/Bread, and Choice of Milk (1% White, Fat Free White, 1% Flavored). A minimum of ½ cup serving of fruit or a minimum of ½ cup serving vegetable MUST accompany a reimbursable lunch!

Payments via check should be made payable to MCSD Cafeteria.

* You must re-apply for free/reduced meals every school year.

Your student’s free/reduced meal status from the previous school year carries over for the first 30 days of the current school year. If you are not re-approved for free/reduced meals for the current school year, your student will start to be charged full price for meals effective on the 31st day of school. If you received a letter this school year stating that your student is direct certified for free meals you do not need to fill out an application.

Parents/Guardians are responsible for paying for their student’s school meals or for applying for free/reduced-price school meals. Exceptions to this are students who are either Direct Certified for free meals for the current school year (notification letters are mailed each year in August) or who attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. The following schools are currently CEP schools: East Derry, Lewistown Elementary, Strodes Mills Elementary, Indian Valley Elementary (grades K-3) and Lewistown Intermediate.

* Parent/Guardian if your student qualifies for Free or Reduced benefits that benefit includes, 1 breakfast meal and 1 lunch meal daily.

Eligible children can receive meals at school for free or at a reduced price. An application must be completed and approved each school year. Applications are sent home with students on the first day of school. Please list all students in the household on one (1) application. An application can be submitted at any time during the school year. Applications are available at your child's school office or by contacting the Food Service Supervisor, Food Service Office, at (717) 248-0148, extension 2516 or Email Hope Baker.

IF YOU RECEIVED A LETTER STATING YOU WILL RECEIVE FREE MEALS, YOU DO NOT NEED TO FILL OUT ANOTHER APPLICATION.

Students approved for subsidized meals at another school district are not eligible in our district until an application has been received by the Mifflin County School District Food Service Department.

Students who are approved for free or reduced price meals can receive one (1) breakfast, and one (1) lunch per day at their approved rate. If a second meal is desired, the full rate must be paid.

Questions concerning the application approval process should be addressed to Hope Baker at (717) 248-0148 ext. 2516 or Email Hope Baker.

If you now receive Food Stamps, TANF Cash Assistance for your child, or if your child is a foster child, your child is eligible for free meals. YOU MUST STILL COMPLETE AN APPLICATION.

If your total household income is the same or less than the amounts indicated below, your child may be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals. The reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch.

Apply for Free/Reduced Meals

*No charge for breakfast through the State's Free Breakfast Initiative
**No charge for reduced-price lunch through the State's Free Lunch for Reduced Eligible Students Initiative

Extra/A-la-carte items are not included in the School Meal. They are sold seperately at a-la-carte prices and can
only be purchased if a student has funds available in their account or cash to cover the cost at the time of purchase.

Breakfast is free for all MCSD students through the State’s Free Breakfast Initiative.

Lunch is free for Reduced-price eligible students through the State’s Free Lunch for Reduced Eligible Students Initiative.

Students who receive Medical Assistance can now be Direct Certified for Reduced-price meals.  Therefore, be sure to check the Benefit column next to your child’s name on the Notice of Direct Certification Letter.

Direct Certification letters will be mailed in August, before school starts. 

The following schools are Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools this year, where all students receive free meals: East Derry Elementary, Lewistown Elementary, Strodes Mills Elementary, Indian Valley Elementary (gr K-3) and Lewistown Intermediate.

Parents of students who are not Direct Certified for free/reduced meals and do not attend a CEP school are responsible for paying for their student’s school lunches or for applying for free/reduced-price school meals.  The cost of a lunch in SY 26-27 is $3.00 for grades K–5 and $3.15 for grades 6–12.  A Free/Reduced Meal application will be sent home with your student at the beginning of school.  The application packet is also posted on the MCSD website, www.mcsdk12.org, under the Lunch Menu link.

If you think there is any possibility your household may qualify for free or reduced-price meals, please complete and submit an application.

* Schools or families can use any of the following methods to locate sites that serve free meals to children during the summer:

• Call 211
• Call 1-866-3Hungry or 1-877-8Hambre
• Text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877877 during the summer months
• Text "SUMMER MEALS" or "VERANO" to 97779.
• Visit Summer Meals for Kids
• Use the site locator for smartphones - Rangeapp