News Release
January 29, 2018
SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM GRANT RELEASED
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides healthy meals to children, age 18 and younger, free of charge as children need good food all year long, even when they’re not in school.
Right now The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Nutrition Services is seeking potential sponsors to operate the SFSP in Nebraska this summer.
Eligible sponsors include public or private non-profit schools, residential camps, and local, municipal, county, or state government sites as well as private, nonprofit sponsors and organizations.
The SFSP operates during the summer or any school vacation of at least three weeks in schools with a continuous school year calendar. Meals and snacks are usually served to children in such places as schools, churches, playgrounds, or parks.
The SFSP was created to ensure that children in low-income areas can continue to receive meals during long school vacations when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast.
NDE Nutrition Services has grant funds available to assist new and existing SFSP sponsors with expenses for expanding and/or initiating SFSP services. Each applicant may apply for a maximum of $15,000 per year.
To be eligible as a SFSP sponsor and to apply for grant funding, organizations must be located within the boundaries of a school district in which 50 percent or more of the students qualify for free and reduced lunches or be within the boundaries of a census tract in which 50 percent or more of the children fall below the poverty threshold. The deadline to apply for a grant is March 2.
To verify your eligibility, contact Nutrition Services at 402-471-2488 (Lincoln) or 1-800-731-2233 (outside of Lincoln).
To download a grant application, visit the Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services web page at: http://www.education.ne.gov/NS/SFSP/news.html.
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USDA 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: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, 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:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
As stated above, all protected bases do not apply to all programs, “the first six protected bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex are the six protected bases for applicants and recipients of the Child Nutrition Programs.
Public Information Officer, Nebraska Department of Education
402-471-4537
david.jespersen@nebraska.gov
@NDE_News