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Fresh Lunch

Free Meals
ISM students are able to receive free breakfast and lunch everyday at no cost to families! This is made possible due to funding from both the federal and state governments.

Revolution Foods
We're excited to again contract with Revolution Foods who prepare our fresh lunches. Rev Foods aims to use the  highest quality ingredients available. They adhere to strict food standards. The milk is rBST-free (hormone-free). They do not serve fried or microwaved food. There are never any high fructose corn syrup or artificial trans fats. They feature foods that are free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, and sweeteners. Revolution Foods provides a fruit, vegetable, and milk with every meal each day.

If you have any questions about Revolution Foods, you can contact them directly using the link above or calling (510) 596-9024.

Income Based Benefits
ISM receives substantial additional funding for all students who qualify for benefits based on family income. We are able to share this money back with families through benefits like discounted After School International, free after school sports, and additional academic support. We ask that ALL families check the eligibility requirements and apply if they believe they have any chance to qualify, even if they do not plan to order lunches, or participate in other extracurricular activities.

Please direct all questions regarding Income Based Benefits and all Benefits applications to Lisa Wichael-Loomis, Head of Operations and Human Resources, at lwloomis@ismonterey.org.
 

Income Eligible Benefits (aka Free and Reduced Price Lunch)
information & directions and application

For additional support, explore the Women Infants and Children website. WIC provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

Families in need can also go to the Monterey County Department of Social Services website for temporary public assistance benefits and services to assist eligible residents of Monterey County meet their basic needs. Programs include temporary cash assistance, General assistance, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKS. Eligibility for these public benefits is based upon income and resource levels.

Meal Expectations
The ISM Wellness policy states, "ISM expects parents to pack healthy lunches, when not purchasing meals at school, and to refrain from including beverages and foods that do not meet the school standards."

Families should review the Healthy Eating Guide & Healthy Snack Recommendations to ensure that they follow school meal guidelines. This includes avoiding foods not allowed at school such as:

  • Canned fruits packed in Syrup

  • Dips high in fat and/or sugar

  • Chips

  • Cookies & cakes

  • Any deep fried foods

  • Soda pop, or other sweetened drinks

  • Energy drinks

  • Candy

  • Fast Food

What To Do If a Student Forgets to Bring Lunch
If a student does not bring a meal from home ISM provides free meals for all students. Students can acquire breakfast or lunch from the meal programs staff. Students can also call home and ask family members to bring them a healthy lunch. ISM no longer allows meals to be delivered to the school by outside meal vendors or delivery agencies, such as pizza parlors, DoorDash, GrubHub, or Uber Eats.

Civil Rights
To understand your civil rights related to school meals, please see the official NOTICE below. We follow the ISM Civil Rights Complaint Acceptance Procedure upon receiving a complaint.

 

NOTICE

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 the Filing a Program Discrimination Complaint as a USDA Customer page, 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 Avenue, SW 
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: 202-690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.