Flooding and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

Due to the recent rain storms many upstate areas are experiencing flooding. Food stamp households that have lost food due to flooding may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits. If your county was affected by flooding please help get the word out about Replacement Food Stamps.

We have posted a new memo describing the criteria and process for current food stamp households, who have experienced food spoilage due to a “household misfortune”, to obtain replacement food stamp benefits.

This memo also includes:

• Replacement Food Stamp Benefits Flyer



• OTDA Form 2291 Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with Food Stamp Benefits

Outreach Materials for Schools and Communities to Promote Summer Meals for Kids

The 2011 summer food season is starting soon! Please help remind families that free nutrition may be available nearby for their children when school is out.

The toolkit is available online and includes the following (plus other template materials):

• Memo to school food authorities (SFAs) about Child Nutrition Reauthorization and SFSP outreach
• Suggestions for SFAs to meet the SFSP outreach requirement
• USDA Outreach toolkit for sponsors and feeding sites

USDA Initiative: Become a Champion to End Child Hunger

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack recently announced a series of new online tools and volunteer initiatives to increase the number of individuals, organizations, and governments actively working to end hunger across the country.

Online resources include:

• Stakeholder Guide to Ending Childhood Hunger: A guide to assist individuals and organizations in choosing value-added activities and finding resources to help end childhood hunger;
• Become a Champion to End Hunger: An online commitment drive that encourages organizations and the public to select actions they will take to reduce childhood hunger;
• End Hunger Volunteerism Portal (www.serve.gov/endhunger): A website developed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) where organizations can post volunteer opportunities and individuals can search for volunteer opportunities in their communities.
  

Read the April 29 press release from the USDA.

Visit the USDA online tools and resources.

Nutrition Consortium Submits Comments to USDA Regarding Proposed School Nutrition Standards

The Nutrition Consortium of NYS submitted comments to the USDA regarding the proposed rule on school meal nutrition standards. Our comments are available online.

To learn more about the proposed nutrition updates, please visit the USDA.
For a summary, please visit the Food Research and Action Center.

The USDA is targeted to release a Final Rule on this issue during winter 2012. School districts are expected to implement nutritional updates by school year 2012-2013.

Buffalo Public Schools: Breakfast in the Classroom

This past September, the Buffalo School District launched breakfast in the classroom in 28 elementary schools. A total of 21,000 students are now eating school breakfast daily.

Check out this news article about breakfast in the classroom.

From the WKBW article:

Principal Denise Luka said the program has made an impact on her students. "It creates a family environment and I truly believe breaking bread together promotes family environment and family atmosphere exactly what we are trying to promote here at Charles R. Drew School," Luka said.