The U.S. Department of Agriculture extended waivers for schools to serve free meals to all students through the end of the school year.

The move is meant to ensure children have access to nutritious meals whether schools are open or closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools and organizations that have participated in the Summer Food Service Program can continue serving free breakfasts and lunches through June 30, 2021. The waivers were previously set to end in December.

Kalispell Public Schools will continue offering free meals to students who attend school on-site and remotely. Free meals are also available to schools where the district is a contracted food service provider including Cayuse Prairie, Helena Flats, Smith Valley and Trinity Lutheran schools.

For remote students, the district is packing boxes on a weekly basis. The boxes will contain enough ingredients to make breakfast and lunch over five days.

Families with remote students who want to participate are asked to email district Food Service Director Jana Graham at grahamj@sd5.k12.mt.us, with how many meals are needed by noon each Friday. Boxes may be picked up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Central Kitchen, 106 Northwest Lane, Kalispell.

Even though meals are free with no registration required, Graham encourages families to still apply for free and reduced meals, which is based on income, in their respective districts. The amount of students who are eligible for free and reduced numbers impacts federal funding for schools in areas other than food service such as academics and transportation. Federal Title 1 funds, for example, are given to schools with high percentages of students from low-income families to improve academic achievement.

For more information call 751-3646.

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