Shutdown does not impact food

With the Federal government still shut down many organizations are starting to feel the trickle effect of that shut down.

However, Linda Martin, Sweetwater County School District No. 2 nutrition services director, said the free and reduced lunch program is not being impacted by the government shut down nor does she expect it to be.

“We have enough funding to get through March,” Martin said.

Even if the government were to impact the free and reduced lunch program the worse case scenario is the district will not receive its funding when it usually does and would have to pull money out of its reserves to cover the program. Once the funding comes, they will move the money spent out of the reserves back into it.

“We’ll get reimbursed eventually,” she said.

As for federal employees who live in this area who are working and not getting paid, those who have children can apply for their children to receive free or reduced lunches.

Free or reduced lunch applications are available on the district’s website http://www.swcsd2.org or in paper forms at any of the schools.

Martin is encouraging those in this type of situation not to wait until their child or children have built up a negative balance on their lunch account before applying. Once qualified, children will receive services for the remainder of the school year regardless of when the government reopens. Currently, the district has 732 students on the free and reduced lunch program in kindergarten through 12th grade.