All public school districts and private schools must conduct outreach for summer meals each school year as required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The outreach is to advertise the availability of summer meals before the end of the school year. Even if there won’t be a summer feeding program in your community, you must share resources that allow households to locate summer meals in the area.
Outreach includes distributing location, meal times, and contact information through your regular communication channels.
There are a number of resources, in both English and Spanish, to raise awareness in your community.
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No Kid Hungry Texting Line - Families may text "Food" or "Comida" to 877-877 to find free summer meals near them.
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No Kid Hungry Meal Site Locator - Promote the https://www.nokidhungry.org/find-free-meals website.
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Banners - OSPI developed reusable banners to promote your SFSP sites. If you are operating a site this summer, you can order banners here.
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USDA Summer Meals Hotline at 1-866-348-6479. Families will receive assistance to find the location, meal times, and contact information for summer meals based on their full address, city, and/or zip code.
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USDA Summer meals finder at www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks. This website is easy for families to use as they can access summer meals locations by entering their zip code.
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USDA Summer Meals Toolkit provides multiple tools and resources you can use.
With so much information needing to be shared, we will be separating our newsletters into the following categories:
- School Meals and Food Distribution Updates
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Updates
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Updates
We want to ensure that important information is shared to appropriate groups and that you are able to easily identify which program the information is geared towards.
Next Steps
If you are on our contact list to receive SFSP Updates, you should receive a separate newsletter that includes articles specific to SFSP. If you do not receive this update in your inbox, please check your spam box and make sure the waospi@public.govdelivery.com email address is on your safe senders list.
If you operate the CACFP, you should already be receiving a separate weekly update.
If you do not receive these updates by the end of the day today, please email samantha.brueske@k12.wa.us and include which programs you need updates for.
OSPI has developed reusable 6 ft. x 3ft. banners to help promote your SFSP sites this summer. You can order these banners to be shipped to you at no cost by completing the order form below. Sponsors can order up to one banner per SFSP site they plan to operate this summer.
Order your banners here
Are you a current DoD participant?
Do you have remaining entitlement dollars? Do you need more funds in your DoD account?
Deadlines:
- DoD Allocation Adjustments close at noon on June 10
- DoD orders must be in FFAVORS by the week of June 15 for deliveries the week of June 22, 2020.
Please fill out the 2019-20 DoD Allocation Adjustment Form if you would like to request any changes.
Questions? Please email Sarah Davis.
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The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application for School Year 2020-21 deadline is extended!
The FFVP provides a fresh fruit or vegetable snack to elementary school students and is an effective and creative way to introduce fresh produce as a healthy snack option.
Funds are awarded to the highest free and reduced-price (FRP) percentage elementary schools. We invite all schools that meet the eligibility requirements to apply for this grant.
The application deadline for participation in school year 2020-21 is June 12, 2020. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Application Process
Starting this year, your application will be submitted using the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS)! You can review the Applying for FFVP Using WINS recorded training to better understand this process.
For more information, please review the 5/4 School Meals Weekly Newsletter.
Questions? Please email Rachel Floyd or call 360-742-4155.
During our weekly update call last week we shared that the USDA approved Washington State for the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program. Some key takeaways:
- DSHS is currently building the system for families to apply and be approved, this will not be available until later this month.
- OSPI created a Communication Toolkit to help you spread the word about the program and how to apply. This is slated to be released within the next week.
Please keep an eye out for future CNS Updates and stay connected by continuing to join us for our weekly update calls.
If you haven't already, now is the time to submit your Food Distribution Sponsor Application!
Sponsors must complete and submit a Food Distribution Sponsor Application annually to receive USDA foods.
For more details and instructions, please review the 5/4 Weekly Newsletter.
Questions? Please email Trisha Santee or call 360-725-6204.
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Does your program intend to transition to "traditional" summer? Is your organization new to operating SFSP in summer 2020?
If you answered 'Yes' to both of these questions, then you are required to attend the SFSP Preapproval webinar!
This requirement is in addition to the recorded training requirement.
This webinar will help us ensure your program is ready to operate the SFSP before we approve your application for the program.
At least one lead administrator from each new sponsoring organization must participate in the webinar.
Register Here Date: Thursday, June 4, 2020 Time: 1 - 2pm PT
Have questions? Can’t make it to the scheduled webinar? Contact us at summermeals@k12.wa.us.
The weekly update calls for School Meal Program and Summer Food Service Program sponsors are extended through June.
Register Here
See you on Wednesdays at 2pm! Please keep an eye out for future CNS Updates for any changes or cancellations.
Earlier this year we planned to host a second round of CEP Summits as an in-person session where you could ask questions and let us know what you need.
Now We're Going Virtual!
We need to know what types of questions you have and what you would like to know more about when considering CEP.
Please fill out this short interest survey by Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) developed a list of farmers and local food suppliers around the state that want to work with schools and community organizations feeding kids this summer.
The list includes the farms and what products the farms have available, especially those that are good fits for school meal programs, childcare, and summer meals during COVID-19 (such as sack lunches, grab and go, and multi-day grocery boxes).
This is a great way to support local agriculture and find fresh flavorful foods to include in your meals this summer.
Have questions? Contact Bianca Smith.
Unable to attend the live webinar? No worries, you can watch the recorded webinar on demand!
The Strategies and Resources for School Nutrition Professionals to Implement CDC's Latest Guidance Related to COVID-19 webinar was recorded and is now available on demand!
This webinar reviews strategies and resources available to assist school nutrition professionals in implementing guidance related to COVID-19 meal service.
Watch the Recording Here
June 3
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Weekly School Meals and Summer Programs Sponsors Call - 2pm | Register Here
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June 10
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DoD Fresh Adjustments Due by Noon
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June 12
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Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Applications Due in WINS
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June 14
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USDA Foods Application for SY 2020-21 Due in CNP
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June 15
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SFSP Application Deadline
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June 30
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Make sure to use all your DoD Fresh Entitlement!
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August 31
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Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Applications Due in WINS
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