Food Service

GJSD Food Services

For any questions or concerns, please contact:
Erika Winney, School Food Director
ewinney@johnstownschools.org
(518) 762-1875

Free School Meals

Parent Letter 2023-24

All Greater Johnstown 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).

No application is required; however, families should complete this Household Income Eligibility Form (HHIE) https://linqconnect.com/public/income-form/new?identifier=NULH2U. 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: Jennifer Radigan, Food Service Specialist, (518) 464-5106, Jennifer.Radigan@neric.org

Cafeteria Menus

You can view menus, allergens, and nutritional values on LINQ Connect, here: https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/NULH2U

If you have difficulty accessing the above menus, please email communications@johnstownschools.org.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served every school day as follows:

  • Pleasant Avenue: 7:30 – 7:45 a.m.
  • Warren Street: 7:30 – 7:45 a.m.
  • Knox Junior High: 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
  • Johnstown High School: 7:15 – 7:40 a.m.

Note: When there is a two hour delay, breakfast is NOT served.

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

LINQ Connect Information

Students will continue to have individual school meal accounts on LINQ Connect. Parents/Guardians can manage those accounts here https://linqconnect.com/ 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 https://linqconnect.com/ or checks can be made payable to Greater Johnstown School District, Food Service Program.

Policies

Please visit  https://go.boarddocs.com/ny/johnstown/Board.nsf/Public to view the following Greater Johnstown School District policies:

  • 5000 District Wellness
  • 5660 Meal Charging and Prohibition Against Meal Shaming

Food Assistance Resources

Local Food Pantries

Local food pantry information is available at this link.

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.

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households up to $30/month toward their internet bills, as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Households with a child who attend schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, are eligible for ACP benefits. Families can check their eligibility, sign up, and find fully covered plans at GetInternet.gov (mobile-accessible and available in Spanish) or by calling 877-384-2575.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20PComplaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted 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; or

2. fax:

(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. email:

 program.intake@usda.gov