Hamburg stops free food

Sadie Haines

     When Covid started in March of 2020, students stopped being required to pay for lunches. Lunch prices had ranged from $2.60 to $3.45, and students can choose to buy extra food, or a la carte. It was a great advantage to some families not having to worry about paying for their child’s lunches.

 This year families will be required to pay for lunches. This may be a problem for some families, but the school offers a free or reduced meals program and it is easy to sign up. There are sign up sheets in each of the school offices or families can sign up online. The program lasts the entire 2022-2023 school year. High school student Maile Bentz said that she was not happy with lunches costing money again.She said she packs lunch more often now.

     According  to an email sent out to Hamburg families from David Shefter, the director of food service, on August 19 2022, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) offered waivers to allow free breakfast and lunch to all children in school. The waivers expired on June 30 2022 which caused the loss of free lunches and breakfasts.

     For more information, visit the hasdhawks.org website under the food services department.