School Meals

  • Updated January 13, 2021

    As students transition back to their school buildings for in-person learning or hybrid learning, breakfast and lunch will continue to be offered everyday free to all students when Forest Lake Area Schools are in session. All breakfast and lunch menus can be found on the food and nutrition website (pickup meals are listed under the distance learning menu). 

    During this transition process, the food and nutrition department understands students will not be in the building everyday due to the transition of moving into a hybrid schedule or continuing with the distance learning schedule.  To help ease with food insecurity during these different learning model changes, curbside meals will continue to stay open. Please look over the curbside meal information carefully as dates,  times, and curbside locations have changed. 

    Curbside Meal Information: 

    January 19th-29th: Families will be able to pick up 2 or 3 day meal bundles every Tuesday & Thursday when Forest Lake Area Schools are in session. 

    Menu- Distance Learning Menu

    • Option 1 Pick Up Time: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM, every Tuesday & Thursday
      • Families need to park and walk to the designated door to avoid the bus lanes. 
      • Locations: 
        • Columbus Elementary- 17345 Notre Dame Street Forest Lake, MN 55025 (Door #1)
        • Forest Lake Elementary-408 SW 4th Street, Forest Lake, MN 55025 (Door #5)
        • Lino Lakes Elementary-725 Main Street, Lino Lake, MN 55014 (Door #1)
        • Linwood Elementary- 21900 Typo Creek Drive NE, Wyoming MN 55092 (Door #16)
        • Scandia Elementary- 14351 Scandia Trail N, Scandia MN 55073 (Door #1)
        • Wyoming Elementary- 25701 Forest Boulevard N, Wyoming MN 55092 (Door #1)
        • Forest Lake Sr. High- 6101 Scandia Trail North, Forest Lake, MN 55025 (Front Door)

    • Option 2 Pick Up Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM, every Tuesday & Thursday
      • Location: Forest Lake Sr. High- 6101 Scandia Trail North, Forest Lake, MN 55025 (Front Door) 

     Starting February 1st -Families will be able to pick up 2 or 3 day meal bundles every Tuesday & Thursday when Forest Lake Area Schools are in session. 

    Menu- Distance Learning Menu

    • Option 1 Pick Up Time: 9:30 AM-10:30 AM, every Tuesday & Thursday
      • Locations: 
        • Columbus Elementary- 17345 Notre Dame Street Forest Lake, MN 55025 (Door #1)
        • Forest Lake Elementary-408 SW 4th Street, Forest Lake, MN 55025 (Door #5)
        • Wyoming Elementary- 25701 Forest Boulevard N, Wyoming MN 55092 (Door #1)
        • Forest Lake Sr. High- 6101 Scandia Trail North, Forest Lake, MN 55025 (Front Door)

     How it works: 

    • Pickup meal bundles at the listed designated locations. 
    • All meal bundles will include 2 or 3 days worth of breakfast and lunches.
    • All meals can be stored in your refrigerator/freezer to heat up at home.
    • Heating instructions for all meals can be found on the menus on the nutrition website (pickup meals are listed under the distance learning menu).

    Can’t Get to the Forest Lake Area Schools Curbside?

    Download the Free Meals for Kids App to your cell phone to find free school meals near you. 

    How it works: 

    1. Download the Free Meals for Kids app to your cell phone.
    2. Use the app to find the nearest site providing meals and meal packs by GPS. 
    3. Click on the nearby site and use the Meals Updates tab for more details. 
    4. Share the app with friends, neighbors and on social media.

    Free Meals for Kids can be downloaded at Apple or Google Play app stores. There are free meal sites across the state at schools, bus stops, libraries, community centers and parks. The app provides location, directions to the site and hours and days of distribution. More sites are added daily.

    Even though meals are free for the rest of the school year, we still encourage you to fill out the free/reduced meal application. This helps you cover costs for other activities at Forest Lake Area Schools. In addition, it grants our district access to federal funding to support our schools. The Meal Benefit Application is available online for easy completion and submission.

    Sincerely, 

    Paige Albrecht, RDN
    Food & Nutrition Director 
    Phone: 651-982-8395
    Email: palbrecht@flaschools.org

Resources for Families

  • FINDING HELP

    • CALL 2-1-1 - United Way Assistance Toll-Free: 800-543-7709; Local: 651-291-0211 Or text your zip code to 898-211 https://www.211unitedway.org
    • Bridge to Benefits  provides an online tool for self-screening for public assistance benefits. By answering a few simple questions, you will be able to see if you or someone else may be eligible for public support programs. It does not ask you for information that identifies you. It’s easy, confidential and free!

    FOOD RESOURCES

    • Every Meal Program: Winter Meal Program is available at the YMCA in Forest Lake and Woodbury. Check here for a complete list of YMCA sites.The YMCA and others are partnering with the Every Meal Program to offer free meal bags December through January. There are over 50 locations throughout the Twin Cities with no qualification requirements. These locations include local libraries, YMCAs, fire stations, faith communities, local businesses, and recreation centers. Flyer in English and Spanish.
    • Fare for All Food Support Call: 763-450-3880; www.fareforall.org or go to: facebook.com/fareforall
    • Minnesota Food Helpline: 1-888-711-1151 (Helpline open M-F, 9am-5pm).Enter your address to find a list of free food shelves, discount mobile markets and free meals near you hungersolutions.org (https://www.hungersolutions.org/find-help/)
    • Second Harvest Heartland: is offering assistance in applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) is a monthly financial benefit that helps you to purchase healthy food at your local grocery and convenience stores, farmer’s markets and even online through Walmart and Amazon delivery. Benefits are received through an  Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which you can use like a debit card.SNAP information and application assistance available over the telephone at 844-764-5513 or 651-209-7963
    • MN Department of Human Services is offering on-line EBT availability to current SNAP recipients: See information HERE on how to make Online EBT Purchases through Amazon and Walmart. Participants cannot use cash assistance dollars – only SNAP for online purchasing. Participants will need to pay for delivery fees and taxes, if applicable, with another payment source (credit card or debit card, PayPal).
    • Hunger Impact Partners: Free Meals for Kids Mobile App
    • Washington County Residents only:
    • Family Pathways Food Shelves: All nine Family Pathways food shelves have shifted to a pre-packed grocery model delivered curbside. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please contact the Family Pathways food shelf near you.Donations of food and financial support are enthusiastically welcomed. List of most needed items.
    • Community Helping Hand Food Shelf is an Emergency food shelf that may be used up to 6 times per year. Residents of the Forest Lake School District (ISD 831) are eligible to use the food shelf. Hours of Operation are currently by appointment only. To schedule an appointment please fill out the form on their website or call them at 651-464-0061.  
    • Linwood Covenant Church Food Assistance: Services are available for the community and surrounding area of Linwood Township by appointment only. To request assistance online, please visit the Linwood COVID-19 Help website and complete the Assistance Request Form. Families can also call the church directly at 651-317-9611 to request assistance.

Rangers Serving Rangers Weekly Food Program

  • The RSR Food Program is intended to assist families in the district who have a financial need by supplementing meals on weekends and during extended school breaks. Each participating student receives a weekend meal pack containing 2 light breakfasts, lunches, and snacks every Friday during the school year. 

    If you would like your student(s) to participate in this program, please complete this form. RSR Food Program Request Form.  If your student is already participating in this program, weekly food packs will be available at  the Grab & Go School Meals pick up site at the building your student attends starting on Friday, December 11th.  RSR Weekly Food Packs will also be available for pick up at the Forest Lake Area Middle School.  

    If you have students in more than one building who are signed up for the Weekly Food Pack program, and you would like to pick up meals for all your students at one location, please let your school counselor or dean know which location you will be picking up from.

    If you have other questions, please contact  your child’s school counselor or dean. List of Counselors and Deans by school.

Resources for Families in Need

Expand All

  • Energy Assistance

  • Finding Help

  • Food Resources

  • Low Cost Internet and Phone

  • Mental Health Resources

  • Health Resources

  • Domestic Violence Resources

  • Housing Resources

  • Work/Unemployment Resources

  • Legal Resources

  • Refugee/Immigrant Resources

  • Other local resources

Distance Learning Childcare

  • As part Forest Lake Area Schools’ decision to shift Forest Lake Area Elementary Schools to a distance learning model, childcare will be available for district enrolled students for those who qualify (see below). This Distance Learning Childcare Program will be an independent childcare program from the regular School Age Care (SAC and Sonic) that operates at each elementary school during in-person and a hybrid learning model. 

    Please note that the qualifying factors for this Distance Learning Childcare Program have changed from those previously used under the Hybrid Childcare Program currently in place as well as the Childcare for Families of Emergency Workers program utilized in the Spring of 2020. Children must be enrolled within Forest Lake Area schools in order to be eligible for this Distance Learning Childcare Program. 

    This Distance Learning Childcare Program will be offered at Wyoming Elementary, Forest View Elementary and Lino Lakes Elementary. Due to staffing constraints, enrollment for this program may be limited and/or temporarily delayed.

    Please review the current information.

    Childcare Registration

We're here to help

  • We recognize that this pandemic situation is creating new hardships for many families. This list on this page may help you find resources that may be helpful for you and your family during this time. In addition, if you or your family is struggling, please feel free to reach out to your school counselor or dean.

    List of Counselors and Deans by school

    Is stress from COVID-19 getting you down? Our school counselors have created a website to help alleviate stress with calming activities anyone can do from home, and links to community resources for families who are struggling.

    Virtual Calming Room

     

Community COVID-19 resources

Ways You Can Help

  • The organizations below are serving our community and in need of volunteer and financial help. If you have the resources and time to help, we encourage you to get involved.
     

    Family Pathways   

    Donations:
    Cash donations are always welcome but food donations are preferred at this time as the sources Family Pathways purchases from are getting low on supplies. Check this list of most needed items.  In addition, breakfast and snack items are needed for the Rangers Supporting Rangers weekly food pack program. 

    Volunteers: 
    Healthy individuals, without high-risk factors, are needed to help families get the items they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. To find out more about volunteering and/or to access a volunteer application, click here. 
     
    For more information, visit Family Pathways COVID-10 Response.
     
    Locations in the Forest Lake Area School District:
    Forest Lake: 935 Lake Street S., Forest Lake MN 55025
    Wyoming: 26816 Kettle River Blvd., Wyoming MN 55092