MENU UPDATE
Attention BCSD Families! The BCSD Food Service Department is excited to announce an interactive menu through the LINQ Connect menu portal, which allows you to find the following nutritional information on our breakfast and lunch menus: allergens, dietary restrictions, religious restrictions, serving size, calories, saturated fat, sodium, carbohydrate, dietary, and ingredients.
Check it out here!
LINQ Connect Menu Portal
PDF of Food Service Flyer
Susan Frank, Senior Shared Food Service Specialist, susan.frank@neric.org (518) 464-5133
Parent/Guardian Letter for 2025-26 school year
Parent/Guardian Letter for 2025-26 school year (Spanish version)
All Berlin Central School District students are eligible to receive FREE school meals (1 breakfast and 1 lunch per day), regardless of family income, through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Additional meals, snacks and a la carte items will still need to be paid for. Students will be able to purchase those items with cash or funds available on their LINQ Connect accounts.
If your child is eligible for federal free and reduced-price meals or free milk, he/she also may be eligible for other benefits. Please take a moment to fill out this important form so that the district can be sure to be meeting all the needs of our district’s families.
Berlin CSD Income Form link
https://linqconnect.com/
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Pay your school fees and add money to meal accounts from anywhere, any time.
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BERLIN CSD – MEAL SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Dear Parent/Guardian:
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) aim to provide all participating children, regardless of background, with the nutritious meals they need to be healthy. This includes ensuring children with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the NSLP and SBP.
Federal regulations require schools and institutions to serve meals at no extra charge to those children whose disability restricts their diet in such a way that they cannot fully participate in the food service program without some modification to the foods offered or the scheduled menu. If you believe your child needs substitutions because of a disability, please get in touch with us for further information. You must request meal modifications from the school and provide the school with a medical statement from a State licensed healthcare professional or a Registered Dietitian. This medical statement must contain but is not limited to the following:
- Information about the child’s physical or mental impairment that is sufficient to allow the school to understand how it restricts the child’s diet,
- An explanation of what must be done to accommodate the child’s special dietary need,
- The food or foods to be omitted and recommended alternatives, in the case of a modified meal
If you have questions regarding the need for meal modifications, contact Howard Johnson at hjohnson@berlincentral.org or (518) 658-1500 X1042 for further information. Grievances should be directed to Tom Olsen at tolsen@berlincentral.org.
Nondiscrimination Statement:
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:
- mail:
S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(202) 690-7442; or - email:
intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Menus
Breakfast
- Students requesting a second meal, snack, drink, or any a la carte item must have funds either in hand or on account to pay for them. These items are not free.
BMHS SECOND CHANCE BREAKFAST AVAILABILITY
This option allows students to eat breakfast after their 2nd period class ends and 3rd period begins.
Meals will be a grab n’ go option and students will take their breakfast into their 3rd period class. This allows those students who do not want to eat during the first breakfast at 7 am, the opportunity to still be provided a meal.
The second chance breakfast is free for ONLY those students who opt out of the first breakfast offering.
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Pay your school fees and add money to meal accounts from anywhere, any time.
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The Berlin CSD today announced an amendment to its policy for serving meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2025-2026 school year, which would allow for all children at all schools/sites to be served meals at no charge.
For additional information please contact the following person:
Capital Region BOCS
Attention: Susan Frank, Program Specialist
900 Watervliet Shaker Road
Albany, NY 12205
(518) 464-5133
Susan.frank@neric.org
Berlin CSD Wellness Policy
Food Assistance Resources
Assistance for Families with Students in School:
Berlin Central School District Free and Reduced Meal Program
Children from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible for free meals or reduced priced meals. Reduced priced meals cost each eligible student $0 for breakfast and $0 for lunch. To apply for free or reduced priced meals, submit a Direct Certification letter from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance OR complete, sign, and return the BCSD application to the district Food Service Director in the business office. Registering for this program is completely confidential. (518) 658-1500 https://berlincentral.org/departments/food-services/
Helping Hands BES Food Pantry
The food pantry is generously funded through donations, grants and community partnership. We provide supplemental food items for weekends and school vacations. Basic food items are sent home with your child after completing an information sheet.
For more information contact Mrs. Deanna Baker at BES via email: dbaker@berlincentral.org
Berlin Middle/High School Helping Hands Food Pantry
A supply of food is available for distribution to middle and high school students in need. Some of the food can be used for snacks to supplement meals (e.g., granola bars); some can be part of a meal (e.g., pasta, soup, cereal). Use of the pantry is confidential. Referrals come from students, families and staff.
For more information contact Mrs. Jen Poli at BMHS via email: jpoli@berlincentral.org
Local Food Assistance:
Berlin Food Closet
(518) 658-2942
United Methodist Church, 17 S Main St, Berlin, NY
Our Lady of Victory Church OLV OLS Food Pantry
Julie Darling (518) 421-5070 & Gloria Kieber (518) 892-6722
31 Owen Road, Grafton, NY
Stephentown Federated Church at 1513 Garfield Rd (County Rt. 26)
Open every Saturday from 9AM to 11AM
For more information, call 518-487-8606
For other food pantries in the greater capital district area, please check this resource: https://thefoodpantries.org/
NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Overview
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food. SNAP helps low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled and others feed their families. Eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, income and other factors.
Benefits
SNAP benefits can help you put healthy food on the table. SNAP monthly benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores.
SNAP benefits are provided through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, similar to a bank debit card or credit card. If you are eligible, an EBT account is set up for you, and every month your benefits will be deposited right into your account.
What can I purchase with SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has strict rules and regulations in place regarding the use of SNAP benefits. Allowable food purchases are very specific.
A detailed list of items that may be purchased with SNAP benefits can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items/.
Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:
Foods for the household to eat, such as, but not limited to:
- Breads and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meats, fish and poultry
- Dairy products
- Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat
Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
- Food that will be eaten in the store
- Hot foods
- Any nonfood items, such as:
- Pet foods
- Soaps, paper products
- Household supplies
- Vitamins and medicines
Contact
For more information about SNAP, contact your local department of social services or call the toll-free OTDA Hotline: 1-800-342-3009.
To find out the location and phone number of your nearest SNAP office, contact your local department of social services.
For more information visit this website: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/snap/
- SNAP provides monthly benefits to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other locations. SNAP helps families stretch their food budget so kids can get the nutrition they need to learn and grow. Apply for SNAP online at MyBenefits.ny.gov
- The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) offers one-on-one help applying for SNAP. NOEP can tell you if you may be eligible for SNAP, answer questions, and help with your application. It’s free and confidential. Find a NOEP Coordinator near you at FoodHelpNY.org.
- mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
- email: Program.intake@usda.gov