From Your Neighbors

Economists call it the K-shaped economy, where some households thrive while others fall further behind. For school nutrition programs, the effects aren't abstract. They show up in the lunch line. Unpaid meal debt nationally jumped 49% in a single year, and a shrinking safety net means more families are falling into the gap between qualifying for help and affording full meal costs. Here's what the data shows, and where neighbors fit in.

Free and Reduced Meal eligibility doesn't carry over, families must reapply every school year, and most Georgia districts open applications in July. Here's why timing matters, what you'll need to apply, and why completing this form helps your school's nutrition program too. If you're not sure whether you qualify, it's worth applying anyway, the form is free, and every completed application makes a real difference.