ACYF-IM-83-14 July 15, 1983

ACF Administration for Children and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children, Youth and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-IM-83-14	2. Issuance Date: July 15, 1983
	3. Originating Office: Administration for Children, Youth and Families
	4. Key Words: Emergency Food Programs

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: Head Start Grantees, Runaway Youth Projects, Child Welfare Agencies and Child Abuse and Neglect Grantees.

SUBJECT: Emergency Food Programs

LEGAL AND RELATED REFERENCES: Public Law 98-8, the Jobs Bill; cited in Federal Register, Vol. 48, No. 81, April 26, 1983.

INFORMATION:

This Information Memorandum is being issued in order to advise all ACYF grantees, runaway youth projects and child welfare agencies of the new emergency food assistance programs, enacted under P.L. 98-8, and to encourage eligible organizations to contact the responsible State agencies in order to apply to assist in distributing the food to needy persons. On March 3, 1983, the Jobs Bill was enacted, as P.L. 98-8, to provided additional authority for emergency food distribution to benefit the poor and the unemployed. In order to govern these emergency food assistance programs, the Department of Agriculture issued interim rules that became effective as of May 1, 1983. The distribution of these emergency commodities is in addition to already existing food programs.

Under Part 250 of P.L. 98-8, those organizations which are eligible to receive surplus dairy products include emergency feeding organizations, disaster organizations, charitable institutions, non-profit summer camps for children, school food authorities, schools, service institutions, welfare agencies, institutions with nutritional programs for the elderly, non-residential child care institutions, and food banks.
Under Part 251 of P.L. 98-8, emergency feeding organizations only are eligible to receive surplus commodities from the $75 million worth of perishable agricultural products. Emergency feeding organizations include soup kitchens, temporary shelters, hunger centers for indigent persons, food banks, and other organizations which provide prepared food to the needy in congregate settings.
If an organization meets both charitable institution requirements and also emergency feeding organization requirements, that organization may receive commodities under both Part 250 and Part 251 of P.L. 98-8.

Other organizations which may be eligible for emergency food distribution programs include local aging agencies, Head Start providers, shelters for runaway and homeless youth, community action agencies, spouse abuse centers, boarding homes, community health centers, maternal and child health centers, day care providers, welfare agencies, and shelters for the homeless.

To cover the cost of storage and handling of food distributed by emergency feeding organizations $50 million will be provided to State governments and local agencies. These funds will be allocated according to the number of households below the poverty level and the number of unemployed in each State.

The program authorities are due to expire on September 30, 1983, and ACYF apologizes for the delay in sending this information to you. However, the USDA will continue to donate some commodities after that date under legislative authorities in effect prior to the enactment of the Jobs Bill.

To apply for the emergency food assistance programs contact your State agency responsible for distribution of donated food (see attachment). If the State agency cannot be reached, contact the USDA/FNS Regional Office for your area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective upon issuance.

INQUIRIES:

Regional Program Directors.

/s/

Clarence E. Hodges
Commissioner

Attachment - FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM / STATE DISTRIBUTING AGENCIES