OSPI NEWS RELEASE: Youth Summer Meals Program Seeks Sponsors

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 02/01/2021 09:39 AM PST

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Youth Summer Meals Program Seeks Sponsors

The Summer Food Service Program helps ensure children in lower-income areas continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer months.

OLYMPIA — February 1, 2021 — The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is seeking sponsors for the 2021 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The program, operated by local organizations around the state, provides meals to students over the summer when they do not have access to school meals.

Eligible sponsors will operate a nonprofit meal program during the summer for youth aged 18 and younger. Once approved, all children—regardless of family income level—can receive a free meal at a meal site.

This federally funded program may be sponsored by the following organizations:

Public and private nonprofit schools,
Residential and non-residential summer camps,
Nonprofit organizations,
Tribal organizations,
Units of local, county, municipal, and state government, and
Colleges and universities that participate in the Upward Bound Program.

Meal sites must be located in areas where at least 50% of the children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals or where at least 50% of the children enrolled in a specific program are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals.

To mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Nationwide Area Eligibility Waiver for SFSP sites to operate in areas that do not meet the free and reduced-price eligibility requirement until June 30, 2021.

Meals must meet USDA meal pattern requirements. Sponsors may prepare their own meals or purchase them from a school district or food service management company. Sponsors are reimbursed for eligible meals served.

Each site may serve each child up to two meals per day. Sites serving primarily migrant children and residential camp sites may serve each child up to three meal types per day.

Information regarding training for new sponsors interested in participating during summer 2021 will be released soon. Applications will be available mid-spring.

Institutions may apply for the program or get more information by emailing communitynutrition@k12.wa.us, or by mailing Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, Washington 98504–7200.

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Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
Email: intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

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OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, 360-725-6162 (TTY: 360-664-3631), equity@k12.wa.us.