[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”2%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Free Meals for Children” text_orientation=”center” content_max_width=”700px” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”Lato||||||||” title_font_size=”41px” title_line_height=”1.2em” content_font=”||||||||” content_font_size=”20px” content_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0) 100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,0,0,0.75)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/somdfoodconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Website-Headers-3.jpg” background_position=”top_center” custom_button_one=”on” button_one_text_size=”18px” button_one_bg_color=”#02d002″ button_one_border_width=”8px” button_one_border_color=”#02d002″ button_one_border_radius=”0px” button_one_letter_spacing=”1px” button_one_font=”Lato|700|||||||” button_one_use_icon=”off” custom_button_two=”on” button_two_text_size=”18px” button_two_text_color=”#353740″ button_two_bg_color=”#ffffff” button_two_border_width=”8px” button_two_border_color=”#ffffff” button_two_border_radius=”0px” button_two_letter_spacing=”1px” button_two_font=”Lato|700|||||||” button_two_use_icon=”off” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”4%||4%||true|false” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”1px” button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”1px” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”1px” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Market Information Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-2px|||||” custom_padding=”4px||70px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.9em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
At Southern Maryland Food Connection, we know that fighting hunger is a year-round effort. During the school year, one of the most important resources for families is the free and reduced-price meal program offered by local public school systems. These programs ensure that every student has access to the nutritious food they need to learn and thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n This page provides an easy guide to these programs and includes direct links to the information and application pages for the public schools in Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.<\/span><\/p>\n Charles County Public Schools offers a Free and Reduced-Price School Meals (FARMs) program. A unique feature of this program is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which provides free meals to all students at certain schools, regardless of family income.<\/span><\/p>\n Calvert County Public Schools participates in the Free and\/or Reduced-Price Meal Eligibility (FARMs) program. This program is a critical resource for families, providing a safety net to ensure students are fed.<\/span><\/p>\n St. Mary’s County Public Schools operates the Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) program. Applying for this program can provide your student with healthy meals and help your school district receive important funding.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" School Meals: An Essential Resource for Southern Maryland Families At Southern Maryland Food Connection, we know that fighting hunger is a year-round effort. During the school year, one of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" fullwidth=\"on\" _builder_version=\"3.22\" animation_style=\"slide\" animation_direction=\"top\" animation_intensity_slide=\"2%\" animation_starting_opacity=\"100%\"][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=\"Resources\" text_orientation=\"center\" content_max_width=\"700px\" _builder_version=\"4.9.2\" title_font=\"Lato||||||||\" title_font_size=\"41px\" title_line_height=\"1.2em\" content_font=\"||||||||\" content_font_size=\"20px\" content_line_height=\"1.8em\" background_color=\"rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0)\" background_color_gradient_direction=\"90deg\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/somdfoodconnection.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/milk.jpg\" background_position=\"top_center\" custom_button_one=\"on\" button_one_text_size=\"18px\" button_one_bg_color=\"#02d002\" button_one_border_width=\"8px\" button_one_border_color=\"#02d002\" button_one_border_radius=\"0px\" button_one_letter_spacing=\"1px\" button_one_font=\"Lato|700|||||||\" button_one_use_icon=\"off\" custom_button_two=\"on\" button_two_text_size=\"18px\" button_two_text_color=\"#353740\" button_two_bg_color=\"#ffffff\" button_two_border_width=\"8px\" button_two_border_color=\"#ffffff\" button_two_border_radius=\"0px\" button_two_letter_spacing=\"1px\" button_two_font=\"Lato|700|||||||\" button_two_use_icon=\"off\" custom_margin=\"|||\" custom_padding=\"4%||4%||true|false\" button_one_letter_spacing_hover=\"1px\" button_two_letter_spacing_hover=\"1px\" button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=\"on\" button_one_letter_spacing__hover=\"1px\" button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=\"on\" button_two_letter_spacing__hover=\"1px\" button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=\"off\"][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" admin_label=\"Market Information Section\" _builder_version=\"3.22\" custom_margin=\"-2px|||||\" custom_padding=\"4px||70px|||\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.2\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.2\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_font_size=\"18px\" text_line_height=\"1.9em\"] If you're struggling financially and having a difficult time providing nourishing meals for yourself or your family, please know that there are many resources available to you. Below is a list of links where you can find additional information about programs that can provide funding assistance to help low-income individuals and families purchase healthy, nutritious food.<\/p>\n Southern Maryland also has an abundance of local farmers markets and farm stands where you can find healthy and locally raised fruits, vegetables, meats and more.<\/p>\n FOOD ASSISTANCE Maryland SNAP<\/a><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS & RESOURCES<\/strong><\/span>Charles County Public Schools<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Calvert County Public Schools<\/b><\/h3>\n
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St. Mary’s County Public Schools<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/strong><\/span>Maryland WIC<\/a><\/strong>
Providing healthy supplemental foods and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age five.<\/p>\n
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) <\/span>helps low-income households buy the food they need for good health. LifeStyles of Maryland offers assistance to anyone interested in applying for SNAP benefits. For more information, contact Jakia Ball at 301-609-9900 ext. 205 or jball@lifestylesofmd.org<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
SMADC Buy Local Guide<\/strong><\/a>
The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission has compiled listings of local farmers markets, including the La Plata Farmers Market and the Waldorf Farmers Market, as well as local farm stands and stores.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n