Food Service
Union City Community Schools – Education Benefits Form
For the 2025–2026 school year, Union City Community Schools is once again taking part in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
Because of CEP, every student in our district can enjoy a healthy breakfast and lunch at school each day at no cost to families.
Even though meals are free, we still need all parents and guardians to complete the Education Benefits Form (previously called the Household Information Report). This form helps determine the amount of extra state and federal funding our district receives, which directly supports student programs and services.
Funding from these programs can help provide things like:
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Additional teachers, staff, and classroom resources
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Fee waivers for ACT/SAT testing and college applications
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Lower-cost or discounted internet services
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Student transportation discounts
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Parent and community activities and resources
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Updated school technology
How to fill out the form:
You can get a copy of the Education Benefits Form from your child’s school office or download and print it from the Resources section below.
Please turn in your completed form as soon as possible so our schools can continue to offer these valuable resources to students and families.
Non-Discrimination Policy
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, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, 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 responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 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
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Breakfast/Lunch Menus
Lunch Deposit
Wellness
Understanding Smart Snack Guidelines & Competitive Foods
At Union City Community Schools, we follow the USDA Smart Snacks in School standards to ensure that all food and beverages sold to students during the school day support healthy eating habits.
What are “Competitive Foods”?
Competitive foods are any snacks or beverages sold to students outside of the federally reimbursable school meals program. This includes items sold:
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In vending machines
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At school stores or snack bars
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As part of fundraisers held during the school day
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At à la carte lines in the cafeteria
These foods “compete” with the school breakfast and lunch programs, which is why they are called competitive foods.
Smart Snack Standards
All competitive foods sold to students from midnight until 30 minutes after the end of the school day must meet USDA Smart Snack nutrition guidelines, which include limits on:
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Calories
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Sugar
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Sodium
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Fat
Foods must also meet whole grain, fruit, vegetable, dairy, or protein requirements. Beverages are limited to water, low-fat milk, fat-free flavored milk, and 100% fruit or vegetable juice (with size limits by grade level).
Why This Matters
These guidelines help create a healthier school environment and encourage lifelong healthy eating habits. They also ensure that our students have access to nutritious options throughout the day—not just at mealtimes.
Our Meal Service: OVS for Lunch & Serve for Breakfast
Union City Community Schools participates in both the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program to ensure students have access to healthy, well-balanced meals every day.
For lunch, our district uses the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) method. Under OVS, students are offered all required meal components but may choose fewer items, as long as they select the minimum required for a reimbursable meal. This approach helps reduce food waste while still giving students choice and variety.
For breakfast, we use the Serve method, meaning all required components are automatically provided to each student. This ensures that every child starts the day with the full nutrition needed to focus and learn.
By offering breakfast at school each morning, we support better attendance, improved concentration, and healthy growth for all of our students.
Breakfast and lunch is available to each student every day.
Meetup and Eatup
Officially known as the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Meet Up and Eat Up provides free nutritious meals to children up to age 18 and living in low-income areas, where 50 percent or more of the students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
To find a nearby location, visit the Meet Up and Eat Up/SFSP Site Locator Map at www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup. All site information, such as meal times and open days, is updated daily.
Contact the Food Service Department