Updated Oct. 13, 2020: USDA recently announced the free school meals program has been extended to include the duration of the 2020-21 school year. The story below, which was originally posted in September, has been updated to reflect the deadline extension.
Fayetteville-Manlius School District’s Food Service Department is making sure 
the district’s most vulnerable students have access to free, healthy meals while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create challenges for many families.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended flexibilities it granted to school meal programs to provide free breakfast and lunch for all children 18 and younger —whether learning in-person or remote—through June 2021.
Effective Sept. 18, meals will be free for all F-M students on the days they are at school, and families can pick up free meals for when their children are learning remotely.
Students are eligible for a free breakfast and lunch meal each school day, regardless of family income.
How to participate:
- On days they attend school in person, elementary students in Cohorts A and B should place their breakfast and lunch orders for that day with their teachers. Students’ accounts will not be charged for breakfast and lunch meals.
- Middle and high school students in Cohorts A and B should submit lunch requests on their in-person learning days by 9 a.m. using the electronic school lunch order form. Students’ accounts will not be charged for hot lunch meals; snacks, a la carte items (including specialty sandwiches from the high school’s sandwich station) and specialty beverages can be ordered, but are not included in the free meal program.
- Middle and high school students in Cohorts A and B should continue to follow their school’s procedure for ordering and receiving breakfast meals. Students’ accounts will not be charged.
- Beginning Sept. 21, Cohort A, B and C students can pick up pre-packaged breakfast and lunch meals on Mondays and Wednesdays from one of the district’s three drive-thru distribution sites listed below. While visiting the drive-thru, all students and family members should remain inside their vehicles at all times.
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- Fayetteville Elementary School
704 South Manlius Street, Fayetteville
Side bus dock
9:45-10:45 a.m. - Fayetteville-Manlius High School
8201 East Seneca Turnpike, Manlius
House 2 front entrance loop
9:15-10:15 a.m. - Mott Road Elementary
7173 Mott Road, Fayetteville
Front entrance loop
9:45-10:45 a.m.
- Fayetteville Elementary School
Cohort C students may receive up to five breakfasts and five lunch meals free of charge on one of the pick-up days. Cohorts A and B students may also receive up to five breakfasts and five lunch meals free of charge, but can only pick up three of each meal on the pick up days to account for the days they are not in school.
To enroll in the meal pick up program, please contact catering@fmschools.org with the following information:
- First and last name of student
- Allergy/dietary restrictions
- Number of meals requested per pick up
- Parent or guardian name
- Phone number
- Pick up location
Because of the expanded distribution program, weekly meal delivery is no longer available.