On July 28, 2023 the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) announced that families will be able to prepare for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year by receiving assistance completing the application for free or reduced-price school meals for their children.
Community events will be held to support families will be held at local libraries across the state throughout the month of August.
Please see the list of library locations and corresponding event dates below:
08/08/23:1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Adams Public Library, 205 Central Street, Central Falls, RI 02863
8/9/23: 11 a.m – 2 p.m. East Providence Library, 41 Grove Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914
08/10/23:12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI 02889 08/11/23:11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cranston Public Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston, RI 02920
08/15/23: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Westerly Public Library, 44 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891
08/16/23: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Newport Public Library, 300 Spring Street, Newport, RI 02840
8/18/23:10 a.m – 1 p.m. Rogers Free Library, 525 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809
8/18/23: 2:30 p.m – 5:30 p.m Mohr Library, 1 Memorial Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919
Any family in need of assistance, regardless of where they live, is encouraged to attend one of these events.
ANGELA INFANTE-GREENE
Additionally, the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition (RIHSC) in partnership with RIDE Child Nutrition Programs has developed a toolkit to support district/school efforts with outreach strategies, communication templates, and meal service models to ensure all students have access to healthy meals.
More information on the meal benefit application process for school year 2023-2024 can be found on the RIDE Child Nutrition Programs webpage.