(BOISE, ID) – The Idaho Department of Education is seeking a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Operation sponsors in urban areas due to the recent air quality issues created by nearby wildfires.
The waiver would affect sponsors in good standing who are operating meal services at sites with no enclosed building options. Specifically, the change would allow participants to consume the meal off-site. Currently, USDA rules require meals to be consumed on-site at urban feeding locations.
Poor air quality and excessive heat can prevent participants from attending these outdoor meal sites and receiving nutritious, well-balanced meals. The intent of the waiver is to boost participation in high need areas where meals cannot currently be consumed off-site.
The department submitted the waiver on Wednesday, July 24. If it is granted, the department will reach out to affected sponsors directly.
Program operators with questions about the waiver submission are encouraged to contact the Idaho Department of Education’s Summer Food Service Program team at sfspteam@sde.idaho.gov.
USDA Nondiscrimination 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/ad-3027.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:
1.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