Archdiocese of Philadelphia Food Program

 Nutritional Development Services (NDS) is an agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia within the Secretariat for Catholic Human Services. For forty years, NDS’ mission has been to serve children and those in need with food and food-related resources. NDS accomplishes its mission in two distinct ways: by administering the federally-funded Child Nutrition programs and through the privately supported Community Food Program. 

 The Nutritional Development Services logo is a reminder to us of the Gospel story of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes. Jesus is teaching the crowds at length and when it gets late the disciples ask him to send the crowd away so that people can buy themselves some food.   Jesus directs the disciples to give the crowd food themselves.   The disciples complain that they do not have nearly enough food for so many.   Jesus tells them to go and see what they do have.  They bring it to him and with it he feeds the five thousand.

Nutritional Development Services actualizes this story through its daily activities.  By providing healthy meals to children in schools, child care centers, after-school programs, and summer programs, children are nourished physically.  Through the Community Food Program, parishes, schools and other community groups share with families, senior citizens and others who need to have assistance in receiving their daily bread.

 NDS partners with 109 parochial, charter and small Christian schools throughout the southeastern region of Pennsylvania. On an average day 17,000 lunches are served. The School Lunch provides a student with 1/3 of their daily requirement for calories and key growth nutrients. In School Year 2012-13, the nutrient standards for the School lunch program were changed. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of whole grains served, and an increase in the quantity and variety of fresh fruit and vegetables served. NDS uses the “Reach for the Stars” theme to encourage students to select and eat their daily servings of fresh fruit and vegetables. Based on family income, school lunch is available either at full price or at no cost. For the 2018-2019 school year, a full price lunch is $2.60 per day. NDS assists participating schools by fully equipping them with a convection oven, refrigerator and freezer. NDS also maintains the equipment. NDS provides compensation to participating schools to cover the cost of running the program. 

Based on family income, the meals are available at no cost, at reduced price, or at full price. Currently, a reduced price lunch is $0.40 and a full price lunch is $1.60.  A reduced price breakfast is $0.30 and a full price breakfast is $0.75.  A reduced price snack is $0.15 and a full price snack is $0.40. Mt. Airy Christian Day School will provide you with a lunch form to complete at the start of enrollement. Please fill out all necessary information so that your child can be part of the free lunch program, pending  your family income.