Orange County Public Schools offering free meals to all students for 2021-22 school year

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Thanks to a waiver through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Orange County schools will be able to provide three meals a day for all students this year at no charge.

The USDA’s Food Nutrition Service has been working to help provide kids with healthy meals throughout the coronavirus pandemic, establishing waivers to improve access.

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Through that waiver, OCPS announced Monday they’ll be able to provide meals for all students, including breakfast, lunch, and supper, for all students for the 2021-22 school year.

“This support for parents and children from USDA will certainly come in handy for anyone who has had their income interrupted or changed,” said Lora Gilbert, OCPS Director of Food and Nutrition Services.

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All of the kid-friendly meals will include fresh fruits and vegetables, produced and purchased locally.

For more information on the USDA’s Child Nutrition Waivers, click here.

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