Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will extend flexibilities that allow summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children 18 and younger through December 31.
This announcement brings a huge relief to our school meal program and the community we serve. Haywood County Schools encourage all families to continue to utilize local school nutrition resources. Research shows that well-nourished students are ready to learn and perform at a higher level inside and outside of the classroom. School Meal Programs offer students access to safe, convenient, and nutritious meals.
Following the closure of schools in March, waivers were granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support emergency feeding through Summer Nutrition Programs and to provide flexibility for meal distribution to ensure no child went hungry during the public health crisis of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This flexibility has been extended to December 31, 2020.
Meals will be available for curbside pick-up Monday – Friday from 11:00-1:00 at all schools except for Central Haywood High and Haywood Early College. Meals for Saturday and Sunday will be included with Friday’s meal. We will be closed Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.
A meal for the 7th will be included with Friday’s weekend meals.
Under these programs:
- Meals are available to all children 18 and under.
- Meals may be picked up at school by parents, guardians, or designated caregivers.
When you choose to support Haywood County’s School Nutrition Program, you are supporting a healthy local economy. School Nutrition Programs employ numerous community members across the food supply chain, from School Nutrition personnel to food distributors, delivery drivers and growers. If you have questions, please contact the School Nutrition Office at 828-627-1150.
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) available online 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:
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; - Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
- Email: mailto:program.intake@usda.gov
Contact: Dr. Bill Nolte, Superintendent