Children need healthy meals to learn. Wayne County Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast price is $1.25. Lunch price is $2.00 (K-12). Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch.
1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Complete the application to apply for free or
reduced price meals. Use one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your
household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required
information. Return the completed application to your child's school or mail to:
Child Nutrition Department, Wayne County Schools, 1601-A Salem Church Rd, Goldsboro, NC.
27530-1247
2. Who can get free meals? All children in households receiving benefits from Food and Nutrition Services,
formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or
TANF/Work First can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free meals if your
household's gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.
3. Can foster children get free meals? Yes, foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster
care agency or court, are eligible for free meals. Any foster child in the household is eligible for free meals
regardless of income.
4. Can homeless, runaway, and migrant children get free meals? Yes, children who meet the definition
of homeless, runaway or migrant quality for free meals. If you haven't been told your children will get free meals,
please call Willette Stanley at 919-731-5900 to see if they qualify.
5. Who can get reduced price meals? Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within
the reduced price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart, shown on the application.
6. Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children are approved for
free and reduced price meals? Please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions.
Call the Child Nutrition Office at 919-705-6145 if you have any questions.
7. My child's application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another one? Yes. Your child's
application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. You must send in
a new application unless you received notification from the Child Nutrition Office stating that your child is
eligible for the new school year.
8. I get WIC. Can my children get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible
for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application.
9. Will the information I give be checked? Yes and we may also ask you to send written proof.
10. If I don't qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year.
For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free
and reduced price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.
11. What if I disagree with the Child Nutrition Office's decision about my application? You should talk
to someone in the Child Nutrition Office. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to:
Wayne County Public Schools, Child Nutrition Department, 1601-A Salem Church Rd., Goldsboro, NC.
27530; (919) 705-6139.
12. May I apply if someone in my household is not a US citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have
to be US citizens to qualify for free or reduced price meals.
13. Who should I include as members of my household? You must include all people living in your household,
related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends) who share income and expenses. You must
include yourself and all children that live with you. If you live with other people who are economically independent
(for example, people who do not support, who do not share income with you or your children, and who pay a
prorated share of expenses), do not include them.
14. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you
normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that
you made $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work
overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
15. We are in the military. Do we include our housing allowance as income? If you get an off-base housing
allowance, it must be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization
Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income.
16. My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is her combat pay counted as income? No, if the combat pay
is received in addition to her basic pay because of her deployment and it wasn't received before she was deployed,
combat pay is not counted as income. Contact the Child Nutrition Office for more information.
17. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find out how to apply for
Food and Nutrition Services, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program or other assistance benefits, contact
your local assistance office or call the Careline phone number (1-800-662-7030).
If you have other questions or need help, call 919-705-6145.
Sincerely, Dewana Faison, Child Nutrition Supervisor
