Updated December 1, 2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued nationwide federal waivers and approved state-specific requests intended to provide temporary flexibilities for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), School Food Service Program (SFSP), and the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP).
Updates, including new requirements, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions, are regularly posted to the California Department of Education COVID-19 School and Child and Adult Day Care Meals webpage.
Local Resources
School Meal Locations: Second Harvest Silicon Valley manages a Google Document that lists school food locations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Please check the document regularly for updates.
- Emergency Food Information: If anyone is in need of food, they should call the Second Harvest Food Bank's Food Connection Hotline (in any language) at 800-984-3663 to get connected to a nearby distribution.
- Farmers Markets: Several farmer's markets remain open and most accept EBT. The Pacific Coast Farmers' Markets maintains a list of open markets throughout the Bay Area, including a list of San Mateo locations.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Policy Memorandums
The USDA released several Policy Memorandums with questions and answers intended to provide clarification to state agencies and Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) operators during the novel coronavirus public health emergency:
- SP 11-2020, CACFP 06-2020, and SFSP 05-2020: Questions and Answers related to the CNP Monitoring and Reporting Nationwide Waivers, released on April 9, 2020.
- SP 13-2020, CACFP 07-2020, SFSP 06-2020: Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers: Questions and Answers, released April 11, 2020.
- SP 14-2020: Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks: Questions and Answers #3, released on April 11, 2020.
Updates regarding the USDA waivers and additional information for program operators are regularly posted to the California Department of Education COVID-19 School and Child and Adult Day Care Meals web page.
Nutrition Waiver Requirements and Distribution Methods
CA Meals for Kids App
The CDE CA Meals for Kids mobile app has been updated to help students and families find meals during COVID-19-related emergency school closures. The information that populates the meals sites data is generated from the CDE's Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS). All school districts are encouraged to enter the information for their sites in the CNIPS site application. The app is available for free download through Apple’s App Store, Google’s Play Store, and Microsoft’s App Store web pages.
More Information
- USDA Newsroom: Provides information on the UDSA COVID-19 non-congregate feeding waiver for schools
- State of California-Heath and Human Services Agency: Provides information on School Guidance on Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19
- Readiness and Emergency Management: Provides information on the dissemination for schools for emergencies
- Food and Nutrition Service Disaster Assistance: Provides information on USDA Disaster Assistance
General Information:
Email: info@smcoe.org
Phone: (650) 802-5515