Free & Reduced Meals Benefit

Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Tony Holguin, 316-541-2577 or tholguin@usd375.org.

No. Use one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: Maria Engels, Circle USD 375, 901 Main Street, PO Box 9, Towanda KS, 67144, 316-541-2577 or mengels@usd375.org.

No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Maria Engels, Circle USD 375 901 Main Street, PO Box 9, Towanda KS  67144, 316-541-2577 or mengels@usd375.org immediately.

Yes, you are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if you are able. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Contact Maria Engels, Circle USD 375, 901 Main Street, PO Box 9, Towanda KS  67144, 316-541-2577 or mengels@usd375.org if you have any questions about the online application.

Your child’s application is only good for that school year.  You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year.  If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals. 

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Please send in an application.

Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report. 

Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year.  For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Tony Holguin, Circle USD 375, 901 Main Street, PO Box 9, Towanda KS, 67144, 316-541-2577 or tholguin@usd375.org.

Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced price meals.  

List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month.  If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes.  If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income. 

List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your application. Contact Maria Engels, Circle USD 375, 901 Main Street, PO Box 9, Towanda KS, 67144, 316-541-2577 or mengels@usd375.org to receive a second application.

To find out how to apply for Food Assistance (FA) or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-888-369-4777.