Turn in Applications to:

Applications can be submitted to the Principal's Office at your designated school, sent via mail, or completed online. 

 

Mail Completed Form to:

School Nutrition Office

North Quincy High School 

316 Hancock street

Quincy, MA 02171

 

Click here to complete your application online

Meal Applications

 

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn, which is why Quincy Public Schools offer healthy meals every school day.  For School Year 2023-2024 all meals are free of charge for both breakfast and lunch. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has signed into law that all school breakfast and lunch meals will be free permanently! Please fill out this application for free and reduced price school meals. If many families fill out and return this form, we will get more money from the federal government for free school meals now and in the future. We will also get more money for other school programs. Filling out this form also helps our community provide free summer meals to all kids, and free meals to kids in childcare. The information you provide is confidential.  We follow strict federal rules to keep your information private

If you are not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and have been approved for free or reduced-price school meals, you may be eligible for SNAP which provides monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries to Massachusetts residents who qualify. Find out if you are eligible for SNAP today by calling Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 and a counselor can help you apply over the phone. You can also apply on your own online at DTA Connect: https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/apply

 

This packet includes an application for free or reduced price meal benefits, and a set of detailed instructions.  Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.   For applications in another language, please click, I Speak for options or here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/translated-applications.

 

Please Note:  If you have received a “Direct Certification” letter this school year saying that your child(ren) are approved for free meals then you do not need to complete an application.  If you received a Direct Certification for one but not all of your household’s school age children, or if you have questions, please call the School Nutrition Department at 617-984-8768. If this is a toll call, you may request to reverse the charges.

 

If you did not receive a “Direct Certification” letter, then you will need to submit a Free and Reduced Price School Meal Application either online or via paper application form.  Application forms are available at http://quincypublicschools.ss19.sharpschool.com/cms/one.aspx?pageId=23457569

 

You may apply online by going to the website:  www.heartlandapps.com and selecting the Quincy Public Schools.  The online application process is fast, safe, secure, and private. You may submit a paper application if you prefer.

 

  1. MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? Yes.  Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year.  You must send in a new application unless you have received a” Direct Certification” letter indicating that your child is eligible for the new school year.
  2. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No, submit only one application per household, even if your children attend more than one school in Quincy. The application must be filled out completely.  We cannot approve an application that is not complete. Your completed application may be returned to any one of your children’s schools or mailed to: Quincy Public Schools, Food Service Department, 316 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02171
  3. Who qualifies for free or reduced meal prices?

 

  • All children in households receiving benefits MA SNAP, MA TAFDC, FDPIR, or specific categories of Medicaid are eligible for free meals.
  • Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway or migrant are eligible for free meals.
  • Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
  • Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
  • Children may receive free or reduced meals if your household’s gross income is within the limits of the Federal Income Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

 

Federal Eligibility Income Chart Year 2023-2024

HOUSEHOLD SIZE

YEAR $

MONTH $

Twice per Month $

Every Two Weeks $

WEEK $

 

1

 

$26,973

 

$2,248

 

$1,124

 

$1,038

 

$519

 

2

 

25,636

 

3,041

 

1,521

 

1,404

 

702

 

3

 

45,991

 

3,833

 

1,917

 

1,769

 

885

 

4

 

55,500

 

4,625

 

2,313

 

2,135

 

1,068

 

5

 

65,009

 

5,418

 

2,709

 

2,501

 

1,251

 

6

 

74,518

 

6,210

 

3,105

 

2,867

 

1,434

 

7

 

84,027

 

7,003

 

3,502

 

3,232

 

1,616

 

8

 

93,536

 

7,795

 

3,898

 

3598

 

1,799

Each additional

family member, add

 

+9,509

 

+793

 

+397

 

+366

 

+183

 

    1. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS homeless, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY? 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 contact the Quincy Public Schools homeless liaison, Leslie Bridson at 617-376-1197 or by email at [email protected]
    2. I GET WIC. CAN MY CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please complete and send in an application
    3. CAN I APPLY ONLINE? 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. You may apply online by going to the website: www.heartlandapps.com and selecting Quincy Public Schools.  The online application process is fast, safe, secure, and private. You may submit a paper application if you prefer.
    4. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask for written proof of the household income you submit.
    5. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year.
    6. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? Contact the Food Service Office at 617 984-8768 to discuss your application. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: James E. Mullaney, Director of Business Affairs, 34 Coddington Street, Quincy, MA 02169, 617-984-8771.
    7. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to apply for free or reduced-price school meals.
    8. WHO SHOULD I INCLUDE AS MEMBERS OF MY HOUSEHOLD? You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as relatives, or friends) who share income and expenses. Include yourself and all children who live with you. If you live with other people who are economically independent (for example, people who you do not support, who do not share income with you or your children, and who pay a pro-rated share of expenses), do not include them.
    9. 12. WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT? Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application, or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.
    10. What if my income is not always the same 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.
    11. We are in the military. do we REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? 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, or receive Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance payments, it must be reported 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.
    12. WHAT IF THERE ISN’T ENOUGH SPACE ON THE APPLICATION FOR MY FAMILY? List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your application. Application forms are available online at www.quincypublicschools.com
    13. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find out how to apply for MA SNAP or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call the MA SNAP Hotline at 1-866-950-3663. For help paying your heating bills this winter call Quincy Community Action at 617-479-8181x301.
    14. Sincerely,

      Sara Dufour, M.Ed., RDN
      Director of School Nutrition
      Quincy Public Schools

      _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not submit all needed information, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the primary wage earner or other adult household member who signs the application. The social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs.

       We may share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.

      _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      Non-Discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

      In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.    

      Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

      To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA.

      The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

      1. mail:
        S. Department of Agriculture
        Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
        1400 Independence Avenue, SW
        Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
      2. fax:
        (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
      3. email:
        [email protected]

      This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

       

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________