Free and Reduced-Price School Meals

The free and reduced-price lunch program is confidential, easy, and can help both your budget and your child's school.

Information and application in English  

Información y aplicación en Español

Apply online in English or Spanish
 

Your child may be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.

In these tough economic times, many families who have never needed assistance before are suddenly finding themselves struggling financially.  If your family is in this situation, you might be able to save hundreds of dollars a year by applying for free or reduced-price school meals.

The benefits are significant.

Families who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch can save hundreds of dollars per child compared with buying full-price school meals or making meals at home. For 2009–10, students who qualify for reduced-price lunch will receive breakfast for free, and will pay only $0.40 per lunch.

There are extra benefits as well; students on this program can also qualify for reduced rates at Kidsports, LTD bus passes, and other programs such as the City of Eugene's RecZone (a release form must be submitted in order for us to release information to these programs).

The school district receives federal reimbursement for the meals, and schools even receive additional federal funding based on how many students have applied and qualified for free and reduced meals—so if you fill out a form and qualify, you are helping both your family and your school!

This is a confidential program.

The only people who will know your child is receiving benefits are the nutrition staff (unless a release form is submitted in order for us to release information to Kidsports, LTD or other organizations offering benefits to qualifying students). Children receiving free or reduced-price meals are not identified to other students or adults.

How do you apply?

Applications are available online, in your school office, and at the 4J Education Center (200 North Monroe, Eugene), and can be returned to your school or to the 4J Education Center.  If your income or family size changes at any time during the school year, you may apply or reapply at that time.  You can even reapply if you were already qualified for reduced-price meals and a change in your family's situation makes you eligible for free meals.  A new application (one per household) must be completed each school year to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. If you have any questions about the program or how to apply, please contact Nancy Gripp at the Eugene School District, 541-790-7659.

[Application form in English, Spanish, Korean, other languages]

[Apply online in English or Spanish]

How do you qualify?

If your household income is at or below the listed guidelines, or if your family receives food stamps, TANF, or FDPIR, you qualify! You can qualify for the program even if your situation is short-term, such as a temporary layoff. 

Federal income guidelines (pre-tax) for 2009–10:

This program is open to all—discrimination is prohibited.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of Oregon prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250, or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). The USDA and Eugene School District 4J are equal-opportunity providers and employers.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.