{"id":11740,"date":"2025-10-24T16:27:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T16:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=11740"},"modified":"2025-10-24T16:27:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T16:27:10","slug":"school-meal-assistance-available-for-military-government-families-during-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/10\/24\/school-meal-assistance-available-for-military-government-families-during-shutdown\/","title":{"rendered":"School Meal Assistance Available for Military, Government Families During Shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>Families with students at Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools can apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits<\/a> during the government shutdown.<\/p>\n

The assistance is intended for the duration of the shutdown. Per USDA requirements, free or reduced-price meal eligibility is based on income and family size.<\/p>\n

Parents can visit the linqconnect.com\/public\/meal-application\/newsubmit<\/a> and search for \u201cAAFES DoDEA\u201d to submit an application online.<\/p>\n

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service has provided DoDEA school meal support since 1955. Today, the Exchange serves 20,000 school meals daily at 73 DoDEA schools in seven countries. The program provides meals as part of the USDA’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, ensuring military children abroad receive the same quality food under the same USDA guidelines as schools in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version: <\/strong>Free and reduced-price meals for DoDEA students impacted by the government shutdown now available. Visit linqconnect.com to apply. Learn more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-33m<\/a><\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing\u00a0valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 51st-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $15 billion\u00a0in earnings that support the military community, including through contributions to critical military Quality-of-Life programs.\u00a0<\/strong>The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of War and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service,\u00a0valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at\u00a0http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0follow us on X at\u00a0https:\/\/x.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Travis Day at 214-312-3534 or daytra@aafes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook: www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

X: https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 Families with students at Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools can apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits during the government shutdown. The assistance is intended for the duration of the shutdown. Per USDA requirements, free or reduced-price meal eligibility is based on income and family size. Parents can visit the linqconnect.com\/public\/meal-application\/newsubmit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":11742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[160,174,107,35,63],"class_list":["post-11740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","tag-aafes","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-exchange","tag-military","tag-military-children"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/10\/24\/school-meal-assistance-available-for-military-government-families-during-shutdown\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"School Meal Assistance Available for Military, Government Families During Shutdown","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/10\/24\/school-meal-assistance-available-for-military-government-families-during-shutdown\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/10\/24\/school-meal-assistance-available-for-military-government-families-during-shutdown\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/240319-A-WB953-0014.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/240319-A-WB953-0014.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Travis Day"}],"creator":["Travis Day"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","army & air force exchange service","exchange","military","military children"],"dateCreated":"2025-10-24T16:27:10Z","datePublished":"2025-10-24T16:27:10Z","dateModified":"2025-10-24T16:27:10Z"},"rendered":"