United States Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

Southeast Region

 

Policy Memorandum 250.13-02:  Activities Unrelated to the Distribution of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodities of Meals

 

This memorandum is a restatement of policy previously issued as Food Distribution Policy Memorandum 94-1 on November 5, 1993.  Any changes made to the original text are in bold.

 

This memorandum will serve to clarify policy with regard to activities unrelated to the distribution of USDA commodities or meals prepared with these commodities which may occur at sites participating in USDA commodity distribution programs.

 

Organizations receiving USDA commodities may not impose any eligibility requirements beyond those established by the State on applicants for, or recipients of, USDA commodities or meals prepared with these commodities.  Therefore, activities unrelated to the receipt of USDA commodities may not be conducted at sites unless participation in such activities is expressly identified as being separate and apart from food service or distribution involving USDA commodities,  and not required in order to receive such commodities or meals that include them.  For example, an overnight shelter that receives USDA commodities may not require otherwise eligible individuals to attend religious services in order to receive meals.  Attendance at such services may, however, be required to stay overnight in the shelter, as this is unrelated to the receipt of meals that include commodities.  Other examples of unrelated activities include political rallies and meetings, and solicitation of monetary contributions at the distribution or meal site for use by religious and other groups.  (Organizations participating in the Nutrition Program for the Elderly can, of course, solicit voluntary contributions to defray the cost of the meal service they provide under that program).

 

In their review or approval of organizations, State agencies should clearly ascertain whether additional requirements are placed on individuals for the receipt of USDA commodities or meals.  Organizations that violate this prohibition should be given sufficient opportunity to abolish such practices and be terminated from the program if they fail to do so.