July, 24, 2026
From Pickerington Local School District

Pickerington, OH — Pickerington Local Schools is pleased to announce that all students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2026-2027 school year through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

Through CEP, families do not need to complete meal applications or submit additional paperwork for their children to receive meals at school. This program helps reduce barriers for families, simplifies the meal service process, and ensures students have access to nutritious meals that support learning and success throughout the school day.

“Providing students with access to nutritious meals each day is an important part of supporting student success. The Community Eligibility Provision helps ensure every student has access to breakfast and lunch, allowing them to focus on learning and making the most of their school day,” said Suzie Gerhardt, Food Services Director for Pickerington Local Schools.

Schools qualifying to operate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) provide breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals.

FREE HEALTH CARE: Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for FREE health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs. These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. Please call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an application. Information can also be found online at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services.

For additional information, please contact:

Suzie Gerhardt
Food Services Director
Pickerington Local Schools
90 N. East Street
Pickerington, OH
614-833-3645
Suzie_Gerhardt@plsd.us

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.