Thousands of additional students are getting free meals at school this year thanks to the expansion of a government program.
The program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides students with free breakfast and lunch. The recent expansion adds 180 new Long Island schools to the list.
Students in the Connetquot Central School District will start receiving free meals on Friday, March 1.
According to the nonprofit Hunger Solutions New York, the program is estimated to save about $150 per child each month in food costs.
Connetquot parent Seth Schoen says that will take a big bite out of his monthly bills.
Schoen says, “$150 roughly per kid, that’s real money. That’s gas in the car. That’s a phone bill. That’s real money.”
Parents in participating school districts do not need to take any action to take part in the program.
Most Connetquot students will receive free meals through June of 2027.
