Statement Attributed to Kate Leone, Chief Government Relations Officer
“Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief and food rescue organization, commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for extending a trio of nationwide program waivers that will help ensure children continue to receive meals safely during the coronavirus crisis. As millions of children continue to miss out on school meals — one of few sources of nutrition for far too many children in this country — the waiver extensions are essential to removing unprecedented roadblocks to efforts that ensure children have enough to eat.
“While schools remained closed to promote social distancing and help stop the spread of the coronavirus across the country, our network of 200 member food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs have partnered with local communities to use flexibilities authorized by Congress and implemented by USDA to offset the loss of school meals. These flexibilities have been instrumental in designing innovative ways to ensure children have the nutrition they need to continue to learn and grow. With the USDA’s flexibility extensions, these partnerships and creative operations can continue into the summer — a time when millions of children are especially vulnerable to hunger.
“As the scope of the pandemic becomes clearer, we look forward to continuing to work with USDA and congressional leaders to ensure child hunger does not become an unavoidable consequence of COVID-19.”
Contact
Please contact one of our media representatives or call 800-771-2303
About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.