Food Services

School Meal Menus

You can view menus, allergens and nutritional values on LINQ Connect by clicking the links below.

Free Meals for All Students

Throughout the 2024-25 school year, the district will be participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.

All students are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge each day of the 2024-25 school year. No application is required to participate in this program.

However, families should complete the Household Income Eligibility Form (HHIE) by Oct. 1. The data gathered from this form allows the district to receive additional state and federal funding, and can qualify students for benefits such as reduced fees for SAT and ACT tests, reduced college application fees, discounts on Chromebook warranties and discounts on monthly internet services and computer purchases. The information from the HHIE form is confidential.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Erin Wright at erin.wright@neric.org or by calling 518-464-3945.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served every school day from 7:45-9:20 a.m. Students in grades 7-12 can utilize the grab and go breakfast or go to the cafeteria during a study hall.

Research shows that children who eat breakfast:

• show improvement on math, reading and standardized test scores
• establish healthier habits for later in life
• have fewer absences and incidences of tardiness
• are more likely to behave better in school
• consume more calcium, fiber, foliate and protein

LINQ Connect

Cambridge CSD uses LINQ Connect for school meal payments. There are four easy steps to creating your free account.

1. Go to LINQ Connect from any computer, tablet or mobile device: https://linqconnect.com/
2. Register for a free account
3. Search for the Cambridge Central School District
4. Add funds securely to student accounts (or use the LINQ Connect app)

For more information, view the LINQ Connect resource center.

If you have any questions, please contact John Lybert at 518-677-8527, ext. 1427 or john.lybert@cambridgecsd.org.

Policy Against Meal Shaming

The goal of the Cambridge Central School District is to provide student access to nutritious meals each school day and to ensure that a pupil whose parent/guardian has unpaid school meal fees is not shamed or treated differently than a pupil whose parent/guardian does not have unpaid meal fees.

Student Wellness

Given the documented connection between proper nutrition, adequate physical activity and educational success, the Board of Education adopted a student wellness policy to provide district students with a school environment that promotes student health and wellness.

Food Assistance Resources

SNAP

SNAP provides monthly benefits to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets and other locations. SNAP helps families stretch their food budget so kids can get the nutrition they need to learn and grow. See if you are eligible and apply for SNAP online.

The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) offers one-on-one help applying for SNAP. NOEP can tell you if you may be eligible for SNAP, answer questions, and help with your application. It’s free and confidential. Find a NOEP Coordinator near you at FoodHelpNY.org.

Summer Food

CCS is pleased to announce its participation in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Meals will be provided to all children 18 years and under without charge.

Summer 2024 EBT Information from OTDA

To be automatically eligible for Summer EBT food benefits:

• A child must receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or Temporary Assistance (cash) benefits, or be directly certified for free meals through Medicaid, OR
• A child must be determined eligible for free/reduced price school meals by their school.

These children will receive benefits automatically and do not need to apply. Most eligible children will receive their benefits this way. These families will receive a letter this summer letting them know that their child is eligible.

For those households that do need to apply, children may be eligible if they meet two criteria:

• The child must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which our district does, AND
• The household’s income must be at or below the income limits for eligibility for free/reduced price school meals

If your household must apply to be considered for benefits, an online application (English and Spanish) will be available by July 1.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (which can be obtained online), from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted 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; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

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