PETITION TO MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (MDE) FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES

SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND

On December 22, 2020 Partners in Quality Care had 228 applications denied to distribute meals through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. The cap placed on SFSP distribution both limits participation of new and pending sites as well as places a cap on existing summer food distribution sites forcing them to turn away hungry children. These applications were wrongfully denied because

1. MDE did not fulfill their complete obligation to assess every site application as mandated in the second sentence in 7 CFR 225.6(b)(6).
2. MDE does not have written, published standards in place to evaluate sponsors who want to exceed the normal SFSP site and participation limits set forth in 7 CFR 225.6(b)(6).
3. The request to distribute more meals per day than the ordinary limit is a direct consequence of the current COVID-19 emergency public health crisis and we can distribute seven times more meals and snacks than in prior years with the same sponsor resources because of USDA waivers.
4. MDE has placed a limit of 50,000 meals per day when the Federal regulations place a cap of 50,000 children per day.

PETITION

We, the undersigned, demand that MDE immediately approve a waiver that allows Partners in Quality Care to distribute meals and snacks through the USDA Summer Food Service Program above the ordinary capacity limits according to the MDE’s authority to do so as stated in 7 CFR 225.6(b)(6). Hungry children can not wait!