443-984-2000
Produce Boxes
Beginning on August 31, free 20-lb mixed produce boxes (funded by the City of Baltimore) will be distributed on Tuesdays at the following locations:
- Carver Vocational-Technical High School
- City Neighbors Charter School
- Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School
- Ft Worthington Elementary/Middle School
- Hazelwood Elementary/Middle School
- Henderson Hopkins
- Holabird Academy
- John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School
- Lakeland Elementary/Middle School
- Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School
- North Bend Elementary School
City and State Resources
SNAP, P-EBT, ETCCity-Wide Food Support in Baltimore City
Visit www.bmorechildren.com/freemeals to learn about food-related supports for children, including meal distribution at non-school sites; grocery and produce box distribution and home delivery; and more. More information for emergency food resources for adults can be found here.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps,” offers some families assistance with food purchases. To see if you are eligible, visit this webpage of the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS). To apply for SNAP, call the DHS Call Center at 1-800-332-6347 (TTY 1-800-735-2258), 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Card
Part of the United States government’s response to the covid-19 pandemic, P-EBT provides support for families of students eligible for free school meals (all City Schools students) during periods of school closure. Find more information about these benefits in Maryland.
If you received a P-EBT card already, don’t throw it away, in case additional P-EBT benefits are approved. All enrolled students in Baltimore City Public Schools as of September 30, 2020, are eligible for P-EBT due to districtwide participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
The State will work with the district to identify eligible children and automatically provide them P-EBT benefits.
If you have misplaced or no longer have your P-EBT card, please complete the customer inquiry form. DHS will use the information you provide to send you a replacement card.
If you were eligible to receive P-EBT benefits but never received a card and completed the customer inquiry form above, please email: PEBT@bcps.k12.md.us.
If you have newly enrolled or transferred to City Schools, please ensure that your child’s school has an accurate mailing address.
Menus
City Schools provides healthy breakfast and lunch options to all students for free. Supper and snacks are also available at many sites. Take a look at the menus below to see what's being served this month.
We are committed to working with school leaders to ensure our operations meet their communities’ needs. For breakfast, for example, some schools serve food in the cafeteria, whereas others allow students to pick up food on their way into school or eat breakfast in the classroom. Free supper and snacks are provided to students participating in supervised school-based after-school activities.
Food Allergies
With parental, cafeteria, and school staff cooperation, City Schools Food & Nutrition Services is committed to accommodating students with food allergies.
Follow prompts on the Nutrition and Allergen Information website for details about every item served in City Schools meals
Many meal accommodations require medical documentation. To request special meal accommodations return the Diet Prescription Form.
Special meal accommodations
Many meal accommodations require medical documentation. To request special meal accommodations return the Diet Prescription Form or required information to Food & Nutrition Services staff at the school where students pick up meals. ENGLISH | SPANISH
Farm to School
Food & Nutrition Services’ Farm to School program promotes experiential education that connects students to nature and food systems. Click here to learn more about this commitment.
The Baltimore City Public Schools Farm to School (F2S) program promotes experiential education that connects students to nature and food systems. In every grade band, our programs and services focus on three core areas: (1) food education for lifelong healthy habits, (2) nature-based exploration for wholeness and academic enrichment, (3) food system engagement for active citizenship, leadership development, and career skills. Reflective of the priorities outlined in the City Schools Blueprint for Success, meaningful F2S experiences are transformative for students’ academic success and their social, emotional, and physical wellness. Additionally, they empower youth to understand, engage with, and co-create their food system in ways that can improve food security and sovereignty, while also preparing youth to be systems thinkers and social changemakers.
With 33 acres of forests, fields, a stream, greenhouses, and a barn full of animals, Great Kids Farm (GKF) is a hub for hands-on Farm to School opportunities. GKF is owned and operated by Baltimore City Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services.
The Farm to School team offers the following (free!) to staff and students in our district:
In-Person Programs
- Field trips to Great Kids Farm (GKF): Curriculum-aligned, hands-on learning with plants, animals, and land at the farm (grades 1-5) [REQUEST FORM]
- Student Summits: A series of energizing workshops bringing together students from many schools: Good Food Summit (grades 5-8, Fall); African American Foodways Summit (grades 9-12, Winter); Spring Garden Club Summit (grades 3-8) [INTEREST FORM]
- F2S Experience @ School: F2S staff bring the farm to your school (classroom or club) to lead lessons on animals, planting, and/or farm-fresh cooking (all grades) [REQUEST FORM]
- High School Employment Program*
- Service-Learning Opportunities @ GKF*
*Contact farms@bcps.k12.md.us with questions about these experiences.
Virtual Programs
- Facetime the Farmer: Live (virtual) visit to GKF tailored by age group and focus area [REQUEST FORM]
- Virtual Field Trip: Students explore GKF at their own pace with this digital experience designed for the virtual classroom [LINK TO TRIP]
- Video Resources:
- Short SABES-aligned videos [LINK TO MENU]
- Introductory farm clips [LINK TO MENU]
Materials-Based Programs
Farm to School Specialists provide technical assistance and materials to school staff interested in school gardening, greening, cafeteria programs, and nutrition programs, in the form of:
- Ag-tivity Kits: Materials and teacher resource pack to link classroom learning with hands-on experiences, including Aquaponics Kit, Microgreens Kit, Mushroom Kit, Indoor Herb Garden Kit, Worms Are Wonderful Compost Kit [LINK TO REQUEST FORM]
- Seeds and Seedlings: Seeds and seedlings are available for educational use on a seasonal basis (1x/Fall, 1x/Spring) [LINK TO REQUEST FORM]
Resources
Other resources for school staff can be found on the City Schools Farm to School homepage and the City Schools Sustainability homepage, where links allow visitors to view all greening resources and to access Green Newsletters for staff.
Gathering Space
GKF hosts professional development and other gatherings (e.g., networking) for departments within City Schools and for external organizations with relevant missions. If you are interested in hosting a meeting at GKF, please submit a request here.
Services
Email City Schools Farm to School staff at farms@bcps.k12.md.us if you are a Baltimore City Public Schools staff person interested in:
Consulting & Professional Development
- School gardens and outdoor learning
- Food education
- Connecting F2S topics to curricula
Community & Family Engagement
- Participation in school-wide family events
- Connections with local farms, gardens, and food- or nutrition-related organizations
Wellness Policy
The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners (“Board”) is committed to fostering school environments that promote student health, well-being, and the ability to learn. Along with a comprehensive wellness education, students will have the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy choices as they grow into adulthood. This Wellness, Nutrition, and Physical Activity policy (“WNPAP”) sets guidelines for health education, nutrition education and promotion, physical education, physical activity, nutrition standards, behavioral health services, and school-based wellness activities.
Videos
USDA Food and Nutrition Services nutrition assistance programs, State or local agencies, and subrecipients, must post the following Nondiscrimination Statement:
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
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 Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 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, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
