If you’re thinking about registering with a food program for your daycare, you may have some questions and concerns? Will the paperwork be difficult? Is the food program worth the trouble? A daycare owner asked, “I was wondering if I could get some info on joining the food program. Is it worth it? Does it even cover half of food cost per month?” We asked the fans of OwnADaycare on Facebook who are daycare owners for their opinions of their daycare food programs. Here are there tips and comments about daycare food programs:
- Call your local Resource and Referral Agency. I use the one out of Fairfield, but that might be too far from you. Here the amount you get is determined by the number of kids getting low cost or free lunches from your public school, or if your family qualifies, or your students are low income. I only get the lower amount. I serve five kids, and claim breakfast, lunch and one snack. I get about $190 a month. It is a good amount more if you qualify.
- For me, it takes less than a minute a day and about 30 min once a month. This past month my check was over 200, but typically at least 150. For me, that is worth it.
- I feel the food program is worth it. I have been on it for years. I feel it helps with some of the food cost. You can do your paperwork online.
- In Fresno, the amount you get is also based on the children you have enrolled as well as the low income children in your area school. I get the higher amount. I have anywhere from 9-14 kids each day, claim breakfast, lunch, and a snack. My check averages $800 per month and the paperwork doesn’t take too long if you keep it up every day.
- Not sure about the rules and such in CA, but I would definitely check into it. I am in OR, have been on the program for four years and is definitely worth it. It is NOT time consuming at all, about a minute or two each day, and then maybe ten or fifteen minutes at end of month and ALL of it is online. I care for 8 kiddos, 4 of them are only part-timers and I get a check direct deposited to my account each month for anywhere from $225 to $300. Well worth the few minutes of my time for the extra money I get.
- I am on the southern California food program. I have 5 kids and my last check was over $600 for the month of August. It is way worth it. Using minute menu application on my xoom makes Steps 4 Success makes the paperwork easy as i just check the children in and enter their meals. It ensures you are providing healthy meals. Plus Minute menu has a part to plan menus, so you plan all your meals print it and handout to parents. It is well worth the time because you are providing healthy meals, being paid for it and you are reassuring your parents you care about their child’s health.
- My check is between $250-$300 and I think it’s worth it as long as you are a tier 1…and the paperwork doesn’t take long at all. Pays for ALL the food my family eats. However we shop right and store fresh fruit and veggies from the summer when it is free.
- Way, way worth it!! My check is usually over $400 – that’s almost a full time kiddo and I know I don’t spend that much on food for them. I shop wisely, serve healthy good food and love the program. Almost no effort involved. I certainly think about an hour of my time is worth $400
- I am in Fresno and think it is totally worth it. The program I am with does not require for you to have a planned menu. It is great to get the extra money for meals!
- We loved it they supply menus and crafts for the kids new information. and does supplement dome cost. You can have the kids eating the same thing do no one feels there food isn’t as great as another’s.
- It’s private sector WELFARE. The children can come from wealthy families and the government will pay for their food. There’s no income requirement. This is worse than welfare. It’s shameful on all sides. The governments “creating jobs”, the providers, for playing along, and the parents for going along. But when free money gets thrown out, people throw integrity and morals out the window and go running for it. Look at how many ladies are talking about the “checks” they get. Ask the parents to bring 2 food items of your choice on Monday mornings. Problem solved. Keep government out of your business as much as you can.
- As you can see nobody claims dinner when in the lunch and dinner is the highest paid meal and only requires you to turn in a sign in / out sheet every month. Daycare centers are paid differently than inhome per state per location. Nobody can determine your worth in this business only you.
- In Maryland I get way more each month than I put out for groceries. It’s not a lot of work because you can go on the website and fill in your meals and that takes less than 5 minutes each day. i get about $5 per day per child so that adds up by the end of the month
- Parents love the fact that providers are helped to maintain healthy diets for their children. So many providers feed the kids and their own kids sugar loaded junk food and only care about money. The food program can also keep childcare cost down for the parents as well as the providers business expense and the assistance is non taxable…
- I will only say this: the food program can be very very helpful, but keep this in mind… In the state of NE there are 2 tiers at which you can be paid. There is a 48% difference in the reimbursement rates. This week on Monday me and several other providers got a letter from the food program dropping us to the lower paid rate. We have always as a town qualified for the high paid tier and as of Sat Sept. 29 we do not. So now I have find a way to pay for food for sometimes as many as 17 people on a little over 100.00 per week. And still have it be healthy. Not sure how I am going to do that.
- I’m in Michigan and I think it is worth it you do everything online and it only takes a few minutes you also get credit for 1 hour of training and they have a publication that come out monthly with a quiz in it you answer the question and get 2 more hours of training. Plus you get paid any little bit helps. I put mine in a savings acct and that’s how we pay for Christmas.
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