My School Bucks

My School Bucks

School Nutrition

Many children depend on school meals, creating a significant hunger gap during the summer months. Polk County Public Schools partners with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to feed children throughout the summer through the Summer BreakSpot Nutrition Program; funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

We are looking for community partners to host meal sites and help us close the hunger gap in Polk County. Sites are open to all children and youth aged 18 and under. All site locations will host children onsite.

Interested applicants should complete the application linked below by March 15th, 2026. Applications received after this date will not be accepted for this summer’s program.

For more information e-mail [email protected] or call Karen at 863-647-4804, ext. 5.

The summer meals application will be open until March 15, 2026.

Summer Meals Application Link: 2026 Summer Meals Application - Community – Fill out form

Polk County Public Schools’ Nutrition Department includes more than 1,000 dedicated professionals who work hard to serve nutritious meals to students every day.

Did you know that each school year we serve more than six million breakfasts and 11 million lunches? We do!

We believe that good nutrition is critical to student achievement and the attainment of our district’s mission and goals. We strive to serve fresh, high-quality food and offer local products at every opportunity, including fresh-from-Florida green beans, corn on the cob, strawberries and more!

Food Allergies/Special Diet Needs

Community Eligibility

As part of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, we are able to offer meals to our students at no cost. We are proud to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture as a way to provide healthy breakfasts and lunches each day at no charge for ALL students at qualifying schools.

List of CEP Schools

If your child attends a charter school not on the above list, please contact the school directly regarding meal benefits.

Career Opportunities

There are great benefits to a career in school nutrition: the schedule is great, with afternoons, weekends and holidays off; full-time employees are eligible for benefits, including health insurance, not to mention the pride you’ll feel when you create smiles, one meal at a time! Professional growth and career enrichment are vital to building a nutrition staff that is prepared to meet the changing needs of our program. All employees receive ongoing training and professional development. Opportunities for career advancement are available to employees who successfully complete our School Nutrition Leadership Academy.

VISIT OUR CAREERS PAGE TO APPLY!

Non-Discrimination 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 at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-For[..], 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: [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

FAQ's