Children in the Greater Latrobe School District students can get two free meals a day through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program.

Greater Latrobe joined other area school districts that are taking advantage of the meal program. Picking up where a similar effort ended in June, the pandemic-prompted program provides a free breakfast and lunch to all children in the district ages 1-18, regardless of their family’s income level or whether they previously qualified for a free or reduced-price school lunch.

The program reimburses the district for the meals. Assistant Superintendent Mike Porembka noted some families who would otherwise have to pay for a school lunch may be under the false impression that they’ll be taking something away from the district by accepting the free meals.

On the contrary, Porembka said. “It’s helping the district by encouraging children to eat a (free) school lunch,” he said. “It will increase the reimbursement to the district.”

Greater Latrobe is dealing with the need for pandemic social distancing as are many other districts — by offering families a choice of taking virtual lessons online, at home, rather than in a traditional classroom setting.

The free meals are available to students in either setting and to preschool or school-age children who reside in the district, whether or not they are enrolled in Greater Latrobe schools.

Meal orders must be placed for those who aren’t attending in-person classes at school. To place an order or for more information, visit the district website at glsd.us and select Food Service under the “Departments” heading.

According to the site, meal orders for the week must be placed by 10 a.m. Monday. Times will be scheduled for elementary online students to pick up meals on Fridays, while online students enrolled at the junior high or senior high will pick up meals on Wednesdays.

Meal pick-ups will be on Tuesdays or Fridays for secondary students who are receiving instruction two days per week at school and three days per week online — in a hybrid program that will be phased out on Sept. 28.

There will be a charge for any a la carte items ordered — such as bottled water, iced tea, ice cream and extra entrees or sandwiches.

The renewed free meal program began Aug. 31 and will extend through the end of the calendar year, or as long as funding lasts, Porembka said. Any student who paid for a lunch from Aug. 31 through Sept. 11 will get a refund for those meals.

During its initial participation in the free meal program, from March through June, Greater Latrobe served 57,692 breakfasts and lunches.

Greensburg Salem, Hempfield and Leechburg Area are among other area school districts taking part in the free meal program.

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