Free School Meals For St. Pete Students, 2021-2022 Academic Year

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — St. Petersburg students will eat for free during the 2021-2022 school year, according to Pinellas County Public Schools.

A waiver from the USDA will help cover the cost of school meals, which for parents, runs about $25 weekly. Families are still encouraged to apply for free or reduced lunch, school officials said. While all students will receive meals at no charge, the application provides other key benefits such as additional funding for schools, technology assistance and discounts for students like clothing and college entrance exams. You may enter the requested information on the free online application, MySchoolsApp.

In addition to free food for all students, 10 new items have been added to this year's school menus. Students chose the new food options during the Student Food Connection taste testing held in February 2020.

• Mozzarella stuffed garlic breadsticks
• Chicken tinga tacos
• Tacho chicken bowl (tots, bacon, Ranch)
• Mexican street corn
• Backyard pizza burger
• Chocolate chip mini pancakes
• Chicken & vegetable dumplings
• Egg, cheese, potato & sausage breakfast wrap
• Boneless dill chicken wings
• Country gravy breakfast pizza

You may check out the school menu at Pinellas County School Menus.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, more than 42 million Americans won't have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations.* Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.