Subject: Food, Nutrition, Child Welfare, Health, School
Deadline: May 20, 2015
“[The Farm to School Grant program makes available] grant funding to support placement of volunteer service members (e.g. AmeriCorps, VISTA, local service corps programs, etc.) in schools throughout the country to build or maintain school gardens, incorporate nutrition education into the schools’ culture, and support school food service personnel in procuring or promoting local and regional products for the school meal program.The Secretary of Agriculture was also directed through The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) to ensure geographical diversity and equitable treatment of urban, rural, and tribal communities, as well as give the highest priority to funding projects that, as determined by the Secretary – (a) Make local food products available on the menu of the eligible school;(b) Serve a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches;(c) Incorporate experiential nutrition education activities in curriculum planning that encourage the participation of school children in farm and garden-based activities; (d) Demonstrate collaboration between eligible schools, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, agricultural producer groups, and other community partners; (e) Include adequate and participatory evaluation plans;(f) Demonstrate the potential for long-term program sustainability; and,(g) Meet any other criteria that the Secretary determines appropriate. Authorizing language also states that as a condition of receiving a USDA Farm to School Program Grant, each grant recipient shall provide matching support in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, and agree to cooperate in an evaluation of the program carried out using grant funds.”
Funder: Food and Nutrition Service
Eligibility: Eligible schools; state and local agencies; Indian tribal organizations; agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers; and non-profit entities.
Amount: $15,000 – $100,000
Contact: Link.
