Benefits to Children
The Lamar County School Nutrition Program provides a nutritious breakfast and lunch for school children every day.  Free or reduced-price meals are available to students whose families meet qualifying economic guidelines.  The program provides meals that meet at least two-thirds of the recommended daily dietary allowances.  Meal choices offered each day include:  protein rich entrees, fruit and vegetable selections, whole-grain breads and cereals, and calcium rich milk.

Operations
The Lamar County School Nutrition Program is operated in accordance with the regulations of the Healthy Hunger Free Act of 2012, the regulations of the State Board of Education, and the Lamar County Board of Education.

Sources of funding for the School Nutrition Program include student and adult sales, state funds, federal reimbursement for student meals based on income eligibility, and USDA donated commodity foods.

If your child has special dietary needs, please contact your student(s) school nurse and/or the Director of School Nutrition.

Stay up to date with us and follow us on Facebook: "Lamar County School Nutrition, Georgia"

Lamar County Wellness Policy, Food Safety Plan, Allergy forms and more can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eqo5FCEXIBvOzjAn8ffM6AP4lefLLKF-?usp=sharing

Dawn St. Michel, SNS

Nutrition Director

dawn.stmichel@lamar.k12.ga.us

770-358-5891

The Lamar County School Nutrition Program is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of our children by providing healthy, nutritious meals prepared in sanitary facilities and served in a pleasant atmosphere.

The Lamar County School Nutrition Program takes pride in being a highly trained, dedicated, professional team whose mission is to assist in educating the students to make healthier food choices for life.  We will accomplish our mission by utilizing advances in technology and providing quality nutritious food choices in a nurturing, caring, clean environment while working with students, teachers, staff and parents.

Our team of food service professionals work diligently every day to provide nutritious assistance programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), meet individuals’ food and nutrition needs.  USDA Foods represent 20-25% of all food served in school meals and our specifications for these foods meet or exceed standards set for commercial products.

It is our objective to provide attractive, well-balanced meals with prompt and courteous service. Our food service team works hard daily to provide the best for our students.  We look forward to serving your child!

The SNP is self-supporting.  No financial support is currently received from local tax dollars to support our program.  The majority of funds received are from our customers (students and adults) that eat with us and reimbursement from the Federal Government.  

All SNP employees take required sanitation training and our Kitchen Managers are ServSafe® certified.  We are also HACCP and OSHA compliant.

The SNP incorporates fresh produce into the school menus every day.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are offered and encouraged at every meal.  We use local Georgia Grown as frequently as available, and also offer Georgia raised ground beef.

Special Assistance Alternative Community Eligibility Provision

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH/SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAMS

By participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and eliminating the need for meal applications, Lamar County Schools will reduce administrative and printing costs. Families also benefit from the elimination of completing and submitting meal applications.

Children need healthy meals to learn. Lamar County Schools offers healthy meals every school day at no charge to your child(ren). Our food service receives support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

The following schools will be participating in this alternative provision and provide meals at no charge to children:

Lamar County Primary

Lamar County Elementary

Lamar County Middle

Lamar County High

 Adult Meal/Second Student Meal Price:
Breakfast $2.35

Lunches $3.90

A La Carte Purchases
Additional items from the daily menu, as well as selected other foods and beverages that comply with the USDA Healthy Snacks guidelines, may be purchased a la carte to compliment school meals or meals brought from home.  All extra purchases require funds to be available (on meal account or in hand) at the time of purchase.

Offer vs Serve

At breakfast, we are required to offer four components:

• 1-2 ounce equivalent servings of bread/grain

• ½ cup serving of fruit

• ½ cup serving of 100% juice

• Milk

Students are required to take a serving of a fruit to be counted as a reimbursable meal.
Offer vs. serve at breakfast requires students to take 3 of the 4 components. At minimum, we can count a breakfast as reimbursable if a student takes either milk or one 4 oz. juice serving with a combination of the bread/grain and meat components. Without being charged for an extra item, students can take a carton of milk, 4 oz. juice/fruit and a combination of the bread/grain and meat components.

At lunch, we are required to “offer” students five components with each meal. Students are required to take three of those five components in order for us to count it as a “reimbursable meal”. Students are also required to take a serving of a fruit or vegetable for us to count it as a reimbursable meal.

Free and Reduced Meals

Online Application: https://linqconnect.com/

Student’s accounts need to be current to prevent negative balance from occurring, we request you pay ahead, or put additional funds on student’s accounts.

Paper Copies of the Free and Reduced Lunch applications are available at all schools and the front desk of the Board of Education.

Notice for Language and Disability Assistance for the School Nutrition Program
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

If you have difficulty communicating with us or understanding this information because you do not speak English or have a disability, please let us know. Contact Patti Hitson at 770-358-5891. Free language assistance or other aids and services are available upon request.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
  
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at https://www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

 (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email Program Intake
 
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.