The Evergreen School District served thousands more meals in the first month of school compared to last year.

From Aug. 27 to Sept. 30 this year, the district served 6,757 breakfasts and 14,547 lunches. In the first month of the 2013-14 year — which started on Aug. 28, 2013 — 4,573 breakfasts and 13,114 lunches were served.

The increase is a direct result of the district’s ability to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students through the federal Community Eligibility Provision that went into effect nationally this year. The Community Eligibility Provision is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

The community provision aims to reduce child hunger by access to two nutritious meals a day in schools that serve high populations of low-income families.

Districts and schools with high populations of low-income families previously required an application process to determine eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals. Now applications are not required.

Last year 73 percent of Evergreen students received free or reduced-price meals.

Evergreen Superintendent Laurie Barron was particularly excited about the increase in breakfast participation this year.

“Students who have a good nutritious meal at the start of the day are going to be more successful in class,” Barron said.

The increase in lunches was unexpected, Barron said.

“We already had such high participation at lunch,” Barron said.

Evergreen School District Food Service Director Joan Jepsen said participation may increase slightly during the rest of the school year.

“We have a minimal number of students not participating. There are a handful of students that bring in sack lunches,” Jepsen said.

There are 768 students enrolled in the district.

Jepsen it has been great to offer free meals to students, especially children who struggled to pay for them.

To be eligible, schools must have a minimum of 40 percent of students from low-income families.  

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.