School meal program applications available Published Aug. 13, 2008 By By Staff Sgt. Kelly White 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Misawa Air Base families may apply now for the AAFES free and reduced-price school meal program for the 2008-2009 school year. "Families who qualify can save between $300 and $400 per child over the course of the school year," said Capt. Denise Duriga, 35th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services Flight commander. Parents often assume they won't qualify for the program, said the captain, but it's important for them to understand that Cost of Living Allowance and Overseas Housing Allowance do not count toward their income for this program. Last year, 80 percent of those who qualified for free lunch were in the grades of E-5 and E-6, and 90 percent of reduced-price recipients were in the grades of E-5, E-6 or E-7. "Even some officers qualified, based on their family size," said the captain. Parents can apply for the program throughout the school year if there's been a decrease in their monthly income or an increase in their household size. Captain Duriga said it's also important parents understand that Misawa school children all use the same pin number entry system to have the price of their meal deducted from their AAFES lunch account. Those receiving free or reduced-price lunches cannot be visually identified, so parents need not be concerned about their children feeling humiliated at school. Families who qualified for this benefit last year must submit a new application for the upcoming school year. Applications are available at the main office of each school and at the AAFES Customer Service Counter. The applications must be submitted via the School Lunch Program drop box, located in the AAFES Customer Service Area in the back of the store. For more information, call Will Jenkins at 226-3504.