Information about additional Free Food Resources
Food and Nutrition Services
*FREE Breakfast and Lunch meals through December 31, 2020
October 2020 Breakfast and Lunch Menus
- Breakfast Menu for Remote Learning
- Lunch for Menu Remote Learning
- Snack for Menu Remote Learning
Meals provided Mondays to Fridays at the following sites (SHS and NWFC students may pick up meals at their neighborhood school):
- Argenziano School (290 Washington St, Cafe Door near Playground). 11:30am to 2:00pm
- Capuano Early Childhood Center (150 Glen St, Main Office Front Door). 11:30am to 2:00pm
- Brown School, (201 Willow Ave, School Yard Door). 11:30am to 2:00pm
- East Somerville Community School (50 Cross Street, Loading Dock). 7:30am - 9:00am and 11:30am to 2:00pm
- Arthur D. Healey School (5 Meacham Street, Door in Back Lot). 7:30am - 9:00am and 11:30am to 2:00pm
- Kennedy School (5 Cherry St, Cafe Back Entrance Door). 11:30am to 2:00pm
- Winter Hill Community Innovation School (115 Sycamore Street, Front of School Off Medford Street). 7:30am - 9:00am and 11:30am to 2:00pm
- West Somerville Neighborhood School (177 Powder House Boulevard). 11:30am to 2:00pm
Visit the Food Resources for Students and Families page for more food resources available to Somerville residents.
The Vegetable of the Month
Free and Reduced Lunch Program
Information about the federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program is sent home with all students on the first day of school. Students who enroll in the Somerville Public Schools after the school year starts can receive information at the Enrollment Office (formerly the Parent Information Center).
- Complete Application Packet for 2020-2021 in English, Spanish, Portugese, Haitian Creole.
Paying for School Lunch
*Please note that all breakfast and lunch meals are FREE through December 31, 2020.
Payment for school lunch is only required if your child/children are not eligible for free or reduced price meals. Online Payment: School lunch payments can be made online through PayPams ($1.95 non-refundable fee per online transaction). You will be required to set up a FREE account when you first log onto PayPams. You may also bring a check or cash to your student's school. For more information, read the PayPams informational flyer.
Check/Cash Pre-Payment: A check or cash can be submitted to Somerville Food and Nutrition Services to pre-pay for your child's school lunch. Checks are preferred as cash transactions are difficult to trace. If a check is not possible, cash can be processed. Checks made payable to Somerville Food and Nutrition Services can be mailed to 8 Bonair Street, Somerville, MA, 02145. You can also have your child submit a check during breakfast time to his/her school's Kitchen Manager. To ensure proper credit when paying by check, please make sure your student's name and school is noted on the memo line. If you have more than one student in the school system, please indicate which child's account should be credited and for how much. The amount of the payment will be credited to the child's account and automatically deducted when a lunch or milk is purchased.
Prepayments are non-refundable. However, the child's balance will be transferred to another Somerville school automatically if the student changes schools within the District. Any remaining balance at year end will automatically transfer to start the new school year.
School Lunch Payment Policies
All students who are not eligible for free or reduced priced lunch or have not submitted a lunch application are required to pay for lunch. Students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade are allowed to debit and still receive lunch. The Food and Nutrition Service Department generates monthly outstanding balance letters for all students who owe a balance greater than $2.50 at the start of each month. These letters are mailed directly home to parents for notification of payment for the outstanding balance. All outstanding balance amounts must be paid in full as soon as possible.
The Value of School Lunches
All of the meals and snacks offered by the Food and Nutrition Services Department (FNSD) meet the nutritional and meal pattern requirements set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for participation in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. Visit the USDA website for more information. All food and beverage items sold through the a la carte programs meet the guidelines established by the Massachusetts Action for Healthy Kids.
The FNSD is recognized around the nation for its innovative approach to healthy eating in a diverse community. The Director, Lauren Mancini, and Assistant Director, Pauline Uccello, are both members of the School Nutrition Association (SNA) of Massachusetts. The FNSD is committed to providing high quality, nutritious, and innovative meals for students and staff throughout the school year and the summer. The FNSD is continuously developing new recipes featuring fresh fruits and vegetables and making nutrition education a priority. There are opportunities for students to explore healthy options through the Vegetable of the Month program, school taste tests, and with the help of the Farm to School grant use locally-sourced food as much as possible to continuously improve food options and student outreach.
SPS complies with the USDA Non-discrimination Statement
Medically necessary dietary accommodations can be made; please contact the Food and Nutrition Services Department at (617) 625-6600, x6083.
Questions or comments about school meals? Call or email Food and Nutrition Services Director Lauren Mancini, (617) 629-5690.
Lauren Mancini, Director
Pauline Uccello Assistant Director