Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)
- Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team
- Other Updates and Information
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Information about Verification
USDA has received many questions about verification and what should be expected as we approach October 1. Unfortunately, USDA does not have guidance to provide right now. However, they are exploring flexibilities and working on developing some Q&As on this. They have reviewed and are discussing questions that have been posed by states.
Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team
School Meals During COVID-19 Promotional Materials
The School Nutrition Team recognizes the many challenges faced by school nutrition departments and the decrease in program participation in many School Food Authorities during this time. To assist School Food Authorities with promoting their school meals program, the School Nutrition Team has developed the School Meals During COVID-19 infographic and accompanying social media graphics. The infographic provides three key messages to assure parents and students that school meals continue to be available, safe, and healthy. The infographic contains a customizable section where School Food Authorities can include specific details about their school meal programs. To access the materials, including instructions for using the graphics, please visit the Wisconsin School Meals Rock, School Nutrition Outreach Toolkit webpage.
Other Updates and Information
Grant Opportunity: Attention Madison Area Master Gardener Association (MAMGA) Members, Dane County Community Gardens, Non-Profit Gardening Initiatives, and School Districts
MAMGA Community Service Grant Applications are being accepted for gardening and horticulture projects for 2021. Grant applications will be accepted between November 2, 2020 and March 1, 2021. Grants are being announced on the MAMGA website and Facebook page, in the MAMGA newsletter, through UW Extension's weekly updates, and will be sent directly to all MAMGA members via email. Grant awards will be announced on or about March 15, 2021.
The purpose of these grants is to help support school garden and public, non-profit community based garden projects located within the Dane County area. A MAMGA Master Gardener must sponsor a project. MAMGA Community Service Grants may not be used to benefit individual home gardens or private businesses. Individual grant applications may request up to $500. Grant funds may be used for seeds, plants, fertilizer, mulch, tools, information and education of students, and the community and garden infrastructure, but not for paid labor. There are a number of sources in Madison for free seeds, seedlings and other forms of assistance that may help match the resources requested in your grant.
Given the pandemic situation for 2021, MAMGA will support innovative and online gardening projects. Applicants must follow all state, local and school district policies regarding social distancing during the course of completing a project. Grant applications, guidance and scoring details may be found on the MAMGA website. Contact Sally Kefer at sjkmail10@yahoo.com with questions and to submit a grant application per the grant instructions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
This is a communication from the WI Department of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Team.
You can contact the School Nutrition Team at dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. To subscribe to schoolmealsnews, please send an email to dpifns@dpi.wi.gov.
dpi.wi.gov/school-nutrition #WISchoolMealsRock