6.5 Million Served

CONCORD- According to statistics compiled by the New Hampshire Department of Education, Granite State schools have served 6.5 million meals since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. More than 4.2 million of the meals served since March have been free to New Hampshire families, an increase of more than 300,000 compared to the same period last year. The latest milestone comes as officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have approved statewide waivers allowing free meals to be served and delivered through the end of the 2020-21 academic year.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our top priority has been to ensure that New Hampshire students continued to receive healthy meals, regardless of financial needs,” said Cheri White, Administrator of the Bureau’s Office of Nutrition Programs and Services. “USDA has been generous in extending meal waivers through the end of the school year, and we’ve been working with local schools to help them qualify. No school in New Hampshire that was applied for these waivers this year has been denied. I also want to thank the school food service employees across New Hampshire who have provided these meals tirelessly through the pandemic.”

“Good nutrition is essential for students to learn, whether in a school building or at home,” added Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. “I want to thank Cheri and her team, as well as our school food service employees, for working so diligently over the past seven months on behalf of New Hampshire students.”