For Immediate Release: January 31, 2024
Contact: communications@doe.virginia.gov
Todd.Reid@doe.virginia.gov
Nearly 3 Million Meals Served Last Summer
RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Education-Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs is seeking partners to participate in the Commonwealth’s Summer Food Service Program this year to ensure that children have access to nutritious meals during months when school is not in session.
The SFSP Program — funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the VDOE Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs provides the opportunity for organizations to combine a meal program with another activity in communities where at least 50 percent of the children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
Approved organizations are reimbursed for meals served and associated administrative costs. In addition, all participating organizations receive training and technical assistance from the VDOE-SNP.
The Program can operate at schools, public housing centers, community centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, and churches. Organizations that qualify to participate in the program include public and private schools, local governments, public and nonprofit private residential summer camps, and faith-based and community-based non-profit organizations.
Organizations in areas designated as rural by the U.S. Department of Agriculture may be eligible to serve multiple days’ worth of take-home meals at once.
Approximately 125 summer meals partner organizations served almost 3 million meals to Virginia’s children between June-August last year.
Information for organizations interested in applying to participate in the Program — including details on application deadlines — is available on the VDOE website.
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted 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; or
- fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
- email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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