BEDFORD — North Lawrence Community Schools (NLCS) assures parents and guardians that the potential end of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, effective November 1, 2025, will not affect a child’s eligibility for free meals at school.
Students currently receiving free school meals due to SNAP benefits will continue to receive them after the potential change.
The school district’s Food Service Department, headed by Director Bonnie Sanders, sent a letter dated October 30, 2025, to families to provide resources to help ensure children continue to receive a complete and well-balanced diet in addition to their regular school meals. The letter was sent to all families, as the resources may be helpful to others.
Resources for Food Assistance
The letter provided several resources for families seeking assistance with groceries and meals outside of school:
- Community Compass App: Families can download the Community Compass App www.communitycompass.app to locate resources such as free groceries, free meals, SNAP stores, WIC stores, and WIC clinics nearby.
- Feeding Indiana’s Hungry: Explore the Find Your Food Bank map on the Feeding Indiana’s Hungry website www.feedingindianashungry.org.
- Indiana 211: Families can dial 211 or visit the Indiana 211 website in211.communityos.org to connect with various local resources, including food pantries and housing assistance.
- USDA National Hunger Hotline: Call the hotline at 1-866-348-6479 or 1-877-842-6273 to find meal resources in your area.
- Feeding America: The Feeding America website at https://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-food provides online tools, including BenefitsCheckUp.org, to help families identify programs for which they may be eligible.
For any questions or concerns regarding school meals, please get in touch with Bonnie Sanders, Food Service Director, at 812-277-3220, ext. 48104, or via email at Sandersb@nlcs.k12.in.us. North Lawrence Community Schools is located at 221 BNL Drive, Bedford, IN 47421. NLCS is an equal opportunity provider.
