Free meals available to Cloverdale, North Putnam students

An effort to help them and their families after financial hardship due to COVID-19, Cloverdale Schools has announced that all students are now eligible for free breakfasts and lunches.

The United States Department of Agriculture and the Indiana Department of Education have sponsored a program in which students will receive free meals through Dec. 31 or until allocated funds are depleted.

In a letter sent out to parents, Superintendent Greg Linton noted that students at all Cloverdale schools will be eligible regardless of their families’ income status. In essence, this is a continuation of Cloverdale Schools’ summer food program.

Linton stipulated that the basic school meal tray is free, but that extras are an additional cost. Money still in students’ accounts will remain, and outstanding purchases must still be paid.

The program will be back-dated to Sept. 1. Lunches purchased since then will be reimbursed to students’ accounts.

North Putnam Schools is also participating in the program in conjunction with Chartwells, its food service provider. Last Friday, the corporation noted through Facebook that these free meals were being provided to on-campus students.