Thousands of students in Lehigh Acres will be getting free school lunch next year, regardless of family income.
The federal government will be picking up the tab for more than 50,000 Lee County students thanks to a new way of funding the school lunch program — which will save families hundreds of dollars a year.
There are 13 schools Lehigh Acres on the list of 77 schools in Lee County that will be handing out free lunches when school starts next August.
The good news is that Uncle Sam is picking up the tab for the schools that qualify as economically needy.
Whether it’s the pizza, chicken nuggets or healthy salads the school district offers, it seems most students have a favorite lunch.
However, paying for a hot lunch can be a challenge for many families.
Thanks to a new federal program, 77 schools in Lee County will offer free lunches to all students regardless of their family income. Previously, families had to fill out paperwork and financially qualify for either free or reduced lunch.
The schools chosen to receive free lunches this August are all considered economically needy.
To see the whole list of participating schools, click here.