Dear Parents & Guardians,

Children need healthy meals to learn. Charlotte County Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.00 at all schools. Lunch costs $1.90 at elementary schools and $2.20 at secondary schools. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch at all schools.

To apply for free or reduced price meals, use the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application, which is available on this web site at the Print Application link above. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to Champ's Cafe, 1016 Education Avenue, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.

Should you have any questions, please call the Champ's Cafe office at 575-5400 and ask for Terri White, our free and reduced-price meal program expert. Thank you for your cooperation!

Sincerely,

Terri Whitacre

Director of Food Service

Charlotte County Public Schools

 

Your Circumstances:	What you should do:
You received a letter after July 1, 2008, telling you that your children qualified for free meals.	DO NOT COMPLETE ANOTHER APPLICATION. Your children are free for the entire school year.
You received a letter after July 1, 2008, telling you that your children qualified for reduced meals, and your circumstances have changed (decrease in income and/or increase in number of people living in your house).	Complete and return an application with your current information to the school office or mail to: Champ's Café 1016 Education Avenue Punta Gorda, FL 33950
You didn't previously qualify for free or reduced meals, but you believe that you now qualify.	Complete and return an application with your current information to the school office or mail to: Champ's Café 1016 Education Avenue Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Your income exceeds the federal guidelines. (See chart below.)	No action required. Please don't fill out an application.

 

 

If my child	Provide the following information
Receives TANF (Temporary Aid for Needy Families) or Food Stamps	•  List each child's name, school, and grade •  TANF or Food Stamp number of each child •  Signature of adult household member. •  A social security number is not necessary.
Is a foster child	•  List child's name, school, and grade - use a separate application for each foster child •  Child's personal use income (if any), and how often it is received. •  Signature of adult household member or appropriate official. •  A social security number is not necessary.
Is not a foster child and does not receive Food Stamps or TANF	•  List each child's name, school, and grade – list all children together except foster children. •  List names of each person living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). You must include yourself and all children. •  List the amount and source of each household member's income and how often it is received.* •  Signature of an adult household member and that adult's social security number. If the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number, check the box or write “none.”

* List the amount and type (Ex: wages, SSI, child support, etc.) of each household member's income and how often it is received (Ex: weekly, bi-weekly, twice a month, monthly, or yearly).

 

List the gross amount and source of each household member's income and how often it is receive . Gross income is the amount earned before taxes and deductions—it is not the same as take home pay . It should be listed on your pay stub, or your boss can tell you.

Next to the amount, write how often the person is paid (weekly, bi-weekly, twice a month, monthly, or yearly).

• Other Income:

• If I don't qualify now, may I apply again later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting Food Stamps or TANF. If you lose your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced price meals during the time you are unemployed.

_______________________________________________

1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Complete one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household.
2. Who can get free meals? Children in households getting Food Stamps or TANF and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free price meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income guidelines.
3. Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals? Please call Social Worker, Dr Lucy Garner at 941-255-7840 to see if your child(ren) qualify, if you have not been informed that they will get free meals.
4. Who can get reduced price meals? Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart, shown below. Any benefits approved will be good for an entire school year.
5. Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free or reduced price meals? Please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. Call Champ's Cafe at 941-575-5400 if you have any questions.
6. I get WIC. Can my child(ren) get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application.
7. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof at any time during the school year.
8. If I don't qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting Food Stamps, TANF or other benefits. If you lose your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced price meals.
9. What if I disagree with the school's decision about my application? You should talk to Champ's Cafe, 941-575-5400 or toll free 888-532-4112. You may also ask for a hearing by writing to Terri Whitacre, 1016 Education Avenue, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.
10. 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 qualify for free or reduced price meals.
11. Who should I include as members of my household? You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). You must include yourself and all children who live with you, and deployed service members.
12. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.
13. We are in the military; do we include our housing allowance as income? If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.

If you have other questions or need help, call 941-575-5400.

Si ud. necesita ayuda, por favor llame al telefono 941-575-5400.

Si vous voudriez d'aide, contactez nous au numero 941-575-5400.

We will contact you when your application is approved or denied. If you have any questions, please call Champ's Cafe at (941) 575-5400 x109.

Sincerely,

Terri Whitacre

Director, Food Service

_______________________________________________

Your children MAY qualify for free or reduced price meals if your household income falls within the limits on this chart .

_______________________________________________

Federal Income Chart

For School Year 2007-2008

Household Size	Annually	Monthly	Twice Per Month	Every Two Weeks	Weekly
1	19,240	1,604	802	740	370
2	25,900	2,159	1,080	997	499
3	32,560	2,714	1,357	1,253	627
4	39,220	3,269	1,635	1,509	755
5	45,880	3,824	1,912	1,765	883
6	52,540	4,379	2,190	2,021	1,011
7	59,200	4,934	2,467	2,277	1,139
8	65,860	5,489	2,745	2,534	1,267
For each additional family member, add	6,660	555	278	257	129

To determine annual income:

• If you receive income weekly, multiply total gross income by 52
• If you receive income every two weeks , multiply total gross income by 26
• If you receive income twice a month, multiply total gross income by 24
• If you receive income monthly, multiply total gross income by 12

Remember: The total income before taxes, social security, health benefits, union dues, or other deductions must be reported.

________________________________________________________________________

FOR INFORMATION ON:

Free or low-cost health insurance for children

Please contact the Charlotte County Family Service Center:

(941)235-0668

College-Tuition Scholarships (awarded to 8th graders only)

Please contact the Take Stock In Children Program at the

Charlotte Local Education Foundation Office

(941) 255-0808 x 3113

________________________________________________________________________

Non-discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 236-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington DC 20250-9410 – or call (800)795-3272 (voice) or (202)720-5964 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

.

Back to Top

Return to Champ's Homepage

.