Escola Solidária guarantees meals for students in Porto

During the Christmas school break, the city’s public school canteens once again provide meals for all students, from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Public school canteens in the city of Porto continue to provide meals for kindergarten children and students in the 1st cycle of basic education during this Christmas break. Students up to the 12th grade are now also covered. In total and until the resumption of classes, 7800 lunches and 7000 snacks will be provided.

According to information available on the municipality’s website, with the transfer of competences in the field of Education, the Solidary School measure was extended to schools in the 2nd and 3rd cycles of basic and secondary education, allowing access to lunch to all students, up to the 12th grade, until 2 January. And this process also ensures the distribution of school lunches, at no cost to guardians, to kindergarten children and students in the 1st cycle of basic education, during the same period of school break.

“The Escola Solidária initiative provides access to nutritionally balanced meals for children who need this service, which is extended to siblings of students aged between 3 and 10 years, even if they do not attend a public school in Porto “, says the municipality.

The Councilor for Education visited the Escola Básica das Antas to enjoy a meal as part of the Escola Solidária initiative. Taking place in all schools in Porto during the Christmas school break, the initiative will provide 7800 lunches and 7000 snacks. Fernando Paulo highlighted the “importance of this initiative that provides a nutritionally balanced meal to children and young people who want it, under the same conditions as during the school year, guaranteeing support for children who are in the ATL, in the family support component in kindergartens or to all those who wish to go to school and benefit from the meal, thus contributing to a more cohesive city.”

Parents “must obligatorily register in advance with the respective group of schools, in order to avoid any food waste”. The meal service is provided between 11:45 am and 1:30 pm and is available in person (consumption at the school) or takeaway (possibility of taking the meal home).

Escola Solidária guarantees lunch from December 19th to January 2nd, free of charge for grade A students of school social action. The value of tier B is 0.73 euros and tier C is 1.46 euros. The Escola Solidária is a service provided by the Municipality of Porto during the various school holidays, in addition to Christmas, also at Easter and in the summer.