For any questions or concerns please contact:
Luis Fernandez, Senior School Food Director
Phone: 518-257-9483
Email: lfernandez@gasd.org

Parent Letter 2024-25

All Greater Amsterdam School District students are eligible to receive FREE school meals (1 breakfast and 1 lunch per day), regardless of family income, through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Additional meals, snacks and a la carte items will still need to be paid for. Students will be able to purchase those items with cash or funds available on their LINQ Connect accounts.

No application is required; however families should complete this Household Income Eligibility Form(HHIE)

The data gathered from this form can qualify students for additional benefits and allows the district to receive additional state and federal funding. The online form only requires an income range and is confidential.

For questions about the HHIE form, please contact: Susan Frank, Senior Shared Food Service Specialist, susan.frank@neric.org (518) 464-5133.

Students requesting a second meal, snack, drink, or any a la carte item must have funds either in hand or on account to pay for them.  These items are not free.  You can create an account for your child at LINQ Connect using this link.

July, 2024

You can also view menus, allergens, and nutritional values on LINQ Connect, click here.

If you have difficulty accessing the above menus, please email Communications@gasd.org.

All students can get one free breakfast every school day. Breakfast is served every school day. Below are the times for each building:

• Barkley: 8-9:30 a.m.

• Lynch: 7:15-9:30 a.m.

• AHS: 7-9:30 a.m.

• Tecler: 8:15-9:30 a.m.

• Curie: 8:15-9:30 a.m.

• St. Mary's: 7:15-9:00 a.m.

If a student arrives after the instructional day begins, they can grab a “to-go” breakfast when signing in with Attendance. “Breakfast After the Bell” helps ensure all students have an opportunity to eat breakfast in the morning.

Research shows that children who eat breakfast:

• show improvement on math, reading and standardized test scores

• establish healthier habits for later in life

• have fewer absences and incidences of tardiness

• are more likely to behave better in school

• consume more calcium, fiber, foliate and protein

Students will continue to have individual school meal accounts on LINQ Connect.  Parents/Guardians can manage those accounts here and add funds for additional meals and snacks not included in the free breakfasts and lunches. Online deposits can be added to LINQ Connect here  or checks can be made payable to Greater Amsterdam School District, Food Service Program.

Meal Charge Policy

Meal Modification Statement

District Wellness Policy

Local Food Pantries

https://regionalfoodbank.net/agencies/amen-food-pantry/

https://www.catholiccharitiesfmc.org/the-food-pantry

https://regionalfoodbank.net/agencies/fulmont-amsterdam/

SNAP

SNAP provides monthly benefits to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other locations. SNAP helps families stretch their food budget so kids can get the nutrition they need to learn and grow. Apply for SNAP online at MyBenefits.ny.gov

The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) offers one-on-one help applying for SNAP. NOEP can tell you if you may be eligible for SNAP, answer questions, and help with your application. It’s free and confidential. Find a NOEP Coordinator near you at FoodHelpNY.org.

Summer Food

Nutritious free meals are available for children and teens 18 and younger at many locations throughout the nation throughout the summer while school is out of session. Please visit the USDA website to find a location near you, or text “Summer Meals” to 97779 or call 1-866-348-6479 to find a site nearby.