Washington state is requesting a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive the requirement, under certain circumstances, for congregate meals in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). OSPI CNS has been receiving an influx of concerns from SFSP sponsors regarding safety incidents at summer meal sites resulting in some staff and families not wanting to participate in meals. The safety of SFSP sponsors and participants is OSPI’s priority.
This waiver will allow SFSP sponsors to feel empowered as they serve meals to their community in high-need areas, knowing they have an option to claim meals taken off-site while keeping staff and participants safe, should a safety event occur.
Questions? Please email the Summer Meals team inbox.