DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Lewiston School Nutrition Program is obligated to post free USDA program information offered to children in the Lewiston School District.

The Maine Department of Education oversees several USDA Food and Nutrition Services programs and initiatives that provide healthy food to children. Each of these programs helps fight hunger and obesity. Below are brief federally-funded program descriptions and initiatives that the Lewiston Public Schools is participating in:

• School Breakfast Program (SBP): Receives additional financial support in Maine to increase participation and acknowledge of the importance of breakfast in improving learning.

• National School Lunch Program (NSLP): Provides low-cost or free healthy meals to children. Schools must follow federally established guidelines.

• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): Nutrition program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to ensure that nutritious meals and snacks are served to eligible children and adults in qualifying care facilities.

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP): Provides a grant to elementary schools that are 50% or greater free and reduced. Funds are used to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to children outside of school meals, often served as a snack and helps students try new foods and increases their consumption of fruits and vegetables.

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• Farm and Sea to School / Harvest of the Month: Promotes Maine-grown, raised, and caught ingredients in the delivery of meals to students.

• Summer Food Service Program (SFSP): The National School Lunch Program provides low-cost or free healthy meals to children. Schools must follow federally established guidelines.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf) from any USDA office, contact (866) 632-9992, or write to USDA with name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by mailing to: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.

Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051 or go to  t the Human Rights Commission website (https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file/instructions) and complete an intake questionnaire.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name. We won’t use it if you ask us not to. Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.


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