Working to End Hunger in America
For 50 years, FRAC has been working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States.
Resources for COVID-19
Webinar Recording: CACFP during COVID-19
Learn about new flexibilities designed to support CACFP providers, programs, and sponsors in the current COVID-19 public health emergency.
COVID-19 Child Nutrition Guidance and Meal Sites by State
This map includes links to each state agency’s website that provides info on how to serve meals during school closures. In addition, there are links to a list or map of meal sites in the state (if available).
CACFP Update: Families First Act
FRAC’s update summarizing the Families First Act’s changes to Child and Adult Care Food Program waivers.
A Resource for School Superintendents: Meeting Students’ Nutritional Needs During a Pandemic
Options for superintendents to receive funding to serve meals and snacks to children when schools are closed.
Map: Coronavirus and School Closures
Track where closures are happening and how many students are being affected with Education Week‘s interactive map.
Maximizing WIC’s Role in Supporting Health, Food Security, and Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Actions that WIC, advocates, partner organizations, and State and local policymakers can take to help preserve access to WIC during this pandemic.
USDA Guidelines on Using Existing Authority to Implement SFSP and SSO Meal Delivery
Q&As from the USDA on the logistics of delivering meals through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) while using existing authority.
Summary of School Districts and Program Providers’ Efforts to Serve Meals During School Closings
An active spreadsheet compiled by FRAC of school districts serving meals and broken down by state, district, and model.
News
FRAC Chat
The COVID-19 pandemic presents a twin threat to public health and the American economy. It is creating significant challenges for 37 million people across the country who are living in food-insecure households and for untold others who are on the brink of poverty, which is the root cause of hunger. Social distancing, decreased work opportunities, and school, child care, and senior center closures are exacerbating the struggles of families that were already wondering how they will put their next meal on the table, and do not have the resources to stockpile food during this crisis.
The COVID-19 virus presents particular challenges for low-income people. To ensure those who lack resources to stockpile food and other basic necessities, and who rely on school breakfast and lunch to help feed their children nutritious food, administrators and legislators should consider adapting Disaster SNAP and disaster provisions of other federal nutrition programs to provide nutrition resources for low-income consumers and to make up for disrupted school meals service; suspending implementation of rules changes that weaken SNAP benefits and enrollment; and increasing SNAP benefit amounts to bolster the program’s countercyclical impacts.
Twenty-eight years ago, FRAC released its first School Breakfast Scorecard.
Recent Publications & Data
See More Resources- Guide
FRAC has created this guide to share the options available to school districts and community partners to serve meals, answer commonly asked questions, and share best practices.
Read the report - Interactive Data Tool
A list of state website responding to covid-19 and school meal sites.
Read the report - Fact Sheet
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued the first set of nationwide child nutrition program waivers based on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The three nationwide waivers will support Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) providers and programs in maintaining access to nutritious meals for children in the current COVID-19 public health emergency.
Read the summary - Fact Sheet
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act creates the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, an important opportunity to provide nutritional resources to families who are losing access to free or reduced-price school meals as school across the country close in response to COVID-19. This resource provides information on the program and helpful information for implementation, including helpful resources.
Learn more