BUENA PARK : Schools Renew Free and Low-Price Meals

Centralia School District plans to continue offering free and reduced-price meals to students during the coming school year.

The meals are offered through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.

A family’s household size and income must meet certain federal criteria for children to be eligible for the program. For example, the annual income of a family of four must be at or less than $18,655, or $359 a week, to qualify for free meals. For reduced-price meals, the income for a family of four must be at or below $26,548 a year, or $511 a week.

Children whose families receive food stamps, government assistance or benefits from the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations are automatically eligible for free meals, regardless of household income.

School lunches cost $1.50, but under the program, a reduced-price lunch would be 40 cents, district officials said. Breakfast is 55 cents, with students in the program paying 30 cents.

Lunch is offered at all schools, and breakfast is served at four of the district’s nine schools.

Applications will be sent to district households at the beginning of the school year. Parents can also apply for the program by contacting their child’s school office, and an application may be submitted at any time during the school year.

For more information, call the district office at (714) 228-3100.