May 11, 2006

Rainbow's End receiving grants for meals

by K.C. Jaehnig

 CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Rainbow's End Child Development Center, a child-care facility for Southern Illinois University Carbondale students, staff and faculty, is taking part in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, which provides nutritious meals and snacks to people in various care programs and in homeless shelters.

Sponsors provide free food to their participants and receive reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through grants to the states based on the participants' eligibility for free, reduced-price or paid meals.

Program eligibility guidelines, which determine the amount sponsors receive for serving free and reduced-price meals, depend on the number of participants enrolled whose family size and household income meet certain criteria.

From now through June 30, repayment criteria for free meals is as follows:

• A one-member household can earn no more than $240 weekly, $479 every two weeks, $519 twice a month, $1,037 monthly or $12,441 yearly.

• A two-member household can earn no more than $321 weekly, $642 every two weeks, $695 twice a month, $1,390 monthly or $16,679 yearly.

• A three-member household can earn no more than $403 weekly, $805 every two weeks, $872 twice a month, $1,744 monthly or $20,917 yearly.

• A four-member household can earn no more than $484 weekly, $968 every two weeks, $1,049 twice a month, $2,097 monthly or $25,155 yearly.

•A five-member household can earn no more than $566 weekly, $1,131 every two weeks, $1,225 twice a month, $2,450 monthly or $29,383 yearly.

• A six-member household can earn no more than $647 weekly, $1,284 every two weeks, $1,402 twice a month, $2,803 monthly or $33,631 yearly.

• A seven-member household can earn no more than $729 weekly, $1,457 every two weeks, $1,578 twice a month, $3,156 monthly or $37,869 yearly.

• An eight-member household can earn no more than $810 weekly, $1,620 every two weeks, $1,755 twice a month, $3,509 monthly or $42,107 yearly.

For each additional family member, add $82 to the weekly total, $163 to the bi-weekly total, $177 to the bi-monthly total, $354 to the monthly total and $4,238 to the annual total.

From now through June 30, repayment criteria for reduced-price meals is as follows:

• A one-member household can earn no more than $341 weekly, $681 every two weeks, $738 twice a month, $1,476 monthly or $17,705 yearly.

• A two-member household can earn no more than $457 weekly, $913 every two weeks, $989 twice a month, $1,978 monthly or $23,736 yearly.

• A three-member household can earn no more than $573 weekly, $1,145 every two weeks, $1,241 twice a month, $2,481 monthly or $29,767 yearly.

• A four-member household can earn no more than $889 weekly, $1,377 every two weeks, $1,492 twice a month, $2,984 monthly or $35,798 yearly.

•A five-member household can earn no more than $805 weekly, $1,609 every two weeks, $1,743 twice a month, $3,486 monthly or $41,829 yearly.

• A six-member household can earn no more than $921 weekly, $1,841 every two weeks, $1,995 twice a month, $3,989 monthly or $47,860 yearly.

• A seven-member household can earn no more than $1,037 weekly, $2,073 every two weeks, $2,245 twice a month, $4,491 monthly or $53,891 yearly.

• An eight-member household can earn no more than $1,153 weekly, $2,305 every two weeks, $2,497 twice a month, $4,994 monthly or $59,922 yearly.

For each additional family member, add $116 to the weekly total, $232 to the bi-weekly total, $252 to the bi-monthly total, $503 to the monthly total and $6,031 to the annual total.

Because it is a federal program, sponsors may not distribute food based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability guidelines. Those who think discrimination has occurred should write to the secretary of agriculture in Washington, D.C. (zip code 20250).