Lunch Program at WISH Community & WISH Academy 2021-2022

We are looking forward to the return of our WISH students and scholars to our campuses for the 2021-2022 school year. This means we are in for an absolutely amazing school year! We also look forward to resuming our full lunch program with our vendor Preferred Meals. Each day we will offer 4 meal options, including at least 1 vegetarian option and a salad option. Each meal will be compliant with the National School Lunch Program and include an option of milk (low fat, fat-free, or Lactaid) as well as daily vegetables and a serving of fruit.

Our new Student Information System - Infinite Campus - will house our meal ordering platform and we will be rolling this platform out to our families in August. Until that time, we are asking parents to place orders for lunches via google forms. Lunch ordering links are located in the section below.

We also are strongly encouraging all families to complete a LUNCH APPLICATION for the coming year. Read on for more information!

LUNCH ORDER FORMS NOW AVAILABLE - AUGUST 16th - SEPTEMBER 17th

LUNCH ORDERS FOR AUGUST 16 - 20

LUNCH ORDERS FOR AUGUST 23 - 27

LUNCH ORDERS FOR AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 2

LUNCH ORDERS FOR SEPTEMBER 6 - 10

LUNCH ORDERS FOR SEPTEMBER 13 - 17

IMPORTANT - 2021-2022 LUNCH APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE - PLEASE COMPLETE ASAP

We are now accepting Lunch Applications for the 2021 - 2022 School Year. PLEASE COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION - EVEN IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO USE THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. These applications potentially mean thousands of dollars for our school! Funding is based on a variety of factors and having families complete these applications annually can provide WISH with additional per-pupil funding to support a variety of WISH programs for all WISH students.

You can download the application here and return the completed application in person (our offices will be closed from July 19 - July 31, reopening on August 2) or by mail addressed to WISH Charter School, ATTN: Kimberlie Traceski, Compliance Manager, 6550 W. 80th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

MEET OUR LUNCH VENDOR - PREFERRED MEALS

With 50+ years of experience in the field, Preferred Meals is known throughout the industry as a leader in school food service. We understand the needs of administrators, parents, and students, so we provide nutritionally balanced meals made with quality ingredients. Menus are student-focused and meet all USDA guidelines. We are experts and committed to the success of your meal program!

PANDEMIC EBT (P-EBT) BENEFIT INFORMATION

P-EBT is a federal program that provides food benefits for families with young or school-aged children. There are several ways families can qualify for P-EBT and the cards for P-EBT 2.0 are beginning to roll out! Here are the key points you need to know:

No Application is Required - Families who have qualified for benefits via the National School Lunch Program, Alternate Income Forms, Direct Certification, Community or Categorical Eligibility, or School provisioning, will automatically receive cards in the mail between July and November 2021.

Recipient Information - Each child who qualifies for the benefit will receive a card in their own name. If you have multiple children in your household, each child who is eligible for benefits will receive their own card. Cards may be received days, weeks, or months apart as the mailings are rolled out over several months.

Children Ages 0 - 6 Are Now Eligible - If you have a small child in your home who received Cal-Fresh benefits between October 2020 and May 2021, they are now also eligible for P-EBT and should be receiving a card.

What If I Received a P-EBT Card by Mistake? - If families who think they have received a P-EBT card by mistake, or do not need the P-EBT benefits can choose not to accept the benefits by destroying the card before using it. Unused funds will be returned to the department of social services to benefit others. You may also call the P-EBT helpline on (877) 328-9677 (M-F 6am - 8pm) to let them know.

What is the amount of the Benefit? - The benefit amount is based on common learning mode (distance learning or hybrid learning) at the schools within the benefits area. The amount per month is either $123 or $68.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR CARDS! - Once you have depleted the funds on your P-EBT Card, please keep the card in a secure place. Additional benefits will be re-added to the card when they become available. This may include an extension of the P-EBT to cover the summer months.

Official P-EBT WEBSITE: https://capandemic-ebt.org/

Please visit the P-EBT Website for more information on the program and visit the FAQ section for additional answers you may need.

FREE LUNCHES AND SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAMS IN LOS ANGELES

YMCA - FEED LA - Local YMCA facilities are offering Grab & Go meal options and grocery collection for families in need. Registration is required so click the link to find a location near you and to register for the service you are seeking.

LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARIES: many of our local libraries are offering free breakfasts and lunches beginning June 14th. Please visit their site for more information or locate libraries near you that are participating in this year's program.

LAUSD & LA COUNTY SCHOOLS: Many public schools will be offering Seamless Summer Feeding Options or participating in the Summer Food Program over the summer months. Many of these sites are open to the public - you do not need to attend that school to receive free breakfast or lunch.

OTHER MEAL OPTIONS: You can also download the CA Meals for Kids App for Android or Apple which will be able to provide you locations and service options in your area.

If you have any questions regarding these services please feel free to reach out to Kimberlie Traceski

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT & COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov.

WISH is an equal opportunity provider.

WISH Stakeholder Complaint Procedure Links:

To file a formal complaint with WISH Administration regarding any aspect of the Lunch Program or services provided, please utilize the Stakeholder Complaint Procedures and Complaint Form. All associated documents can be found via THIS LINK.

IMPORTANT LINKS - Documents and FIles

Income Eligibility Guidelines for 2021-2022

Lunch Application With Instructions (English)

Lunch Application With Instructions (Amharic)

Lunch Application With Instructions (Spanish)

WISH Wellness Policy

WISH Stakeholder Complaints Procedures

WISH Stakeholder Complaint Forms

California Department of Education - School Nutrition Program Official Site