LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Monday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will extend several flexibilities through as late as December 31, 2020. The flexibilities allow summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children into the fall months.
“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs, and today, we are also extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially,” said Secretary Perdue. “We appreciate the incredible efforts by our school food service professionals year in and year out, but this year we have an unprecedented situation. This extension of summer program authority will employ summer program sponsors to ensure meals are reaching all children – whether they are learning in the classroom or virtually – so they are fed and ready to learn, even in new and ever-changing learning environments.”
- Allowing SFSP and SSO meals to be served in all areas and at no cost;
- Permitting meals to be served outside of the typically-required group settings and meal times;
- Waiving meal pattern requirements as necessary; and
- Allowing parents and guardians to pick-up meals for their children.
Representatives in Michigan are praising the announcement.
“The USDA has finally listened to calls from educators and parents across Michigan and agreed to extend important school meals flexibilities,” Senator Debbie Stabenow said in a written statement. “This is a positive first step forward that will ensure millions of children in Michigan and across the country will get the healthy food they need to learn and thrive. Because many schools will need this certainty to continue, I encourage the Department to take the next step and extend these flexibilities for the full school year.”
Last week, Senator Stabenow joined State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice and other leaders to urge the USDA to make this change and extend flexibilities that allow Michigan schools to feed children during the COVID-19 crisis.
“We are delighted that Secretary Perdue heard the voices of those in Michigan and across the country who advocated for full flexibility in feeding our children,” Dr. Rice said in a statement. “Given that the pandemic continues, the secretary’s decision to continue his waivers of the last six months, although delayed, is welcome and appreciated.”
Officials add that should additional funding be requested by USDA to further extend these waivers, Congress will work with the Department to address any funding needs to ensure children continue to receive meals.
