The federal government has extended the free lunch program for all school districts through the end of the school year.

The Greene County and Paton-Churdan school districts will continue to serve free breakfasts and lunches to their respective students through the end of the current school year. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue tells Raccoon Valley Radio it’s a great thing to be able to extend this important program for students.

“USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) has done a wonderful job with the flexibilities all through the fall, that’s where we had the authority to do that. The recent legislation, and the continued resolution enabled the USDA to do that, and they did that. And we’re very glad (to do that) through the end of the school year.”

Greene County Superintendent Tim Christensen is thankful to have this opportunity for students.

“So we’re basically just taking a tally when kids go through the line for breakfast or lunch. The one thing I know, a comment from the high school, the number of people eating breakfast is significantly higher. So just encourage people to take advantage of that.”      

According to the USDA, the extension is meant to help lessen the financial hardship on families impacted by the pandemic.