The U. 5. Department
af Agrilulture's
FOOD
DODATIOD
PROGRAmS
PROP ~T'r c;- THE
IRRARY
JA 3 1972
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AT GREENSBORO
0447
PA-667
Slightly revised November 1971
Food and Nutrition Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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FOOD
DODATIOD PROGRAmS
Foods donated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are used to meet
the nutritional needs of children in nonprofit school lunch programs, camps
and institutions, of needy families, and of needy persons in institutions.
The program is called Food Distribution, and is administered by USDA's
Food and Nutrition Service. It is an effective way to use the Nation's food
production to help all citizens-children, the needy, and victims of natural
disasters.
It also helps to expand markets for farm products.
WHO BENEFITS
Children, attending preschools through
high schools, and eating in nonprofit lunch
programs, benefit from USDA-donated
foods.
The USDA also buys foods, especially for
schools taking part in the National School
Lunch Program to help meet the nutritional
requirements for children's lunches.
Many rural and urban schools lack facilities
and economic resources to operate
school lunch programs, or to provide freeor
reduced-price lunches for needy children
with normal local, State, and Federal aid.
With increased donations of foods and tech·
nical assistance, FNS is helping expand the
school lunch program to some of these
"pockets of need."
Needy families whose economic situation
prevents them from buying enough
food may receive donated food in the many
areas where local authorities arrange for its
distribution. They include the unemployed
and low-income groups, families of migrant
workers, expectant mothers and young infants,
and many other families whose members
are receiving Social Security benefits
or grants under public welfare. To receive
donated foods in a participating county or
city, a responsible member of the household
applies at the local public welfare agency
to be certified for food assistance, according
to the State's criteria for determining economic
need for food.
State and local agencies are responsible
for certifying applicants, and for transporting,
storing, and distributing donated foods.
Therefore, they decide whether or not their
areas will ask to take part in the program.
Usually, they must pay all the local costs of
administering the program.
Victims of disasters, such as hurricanes,
tornadoes, and floods, always have
top priority in the distribution of available
food. Schools usually offer the best and most
convenient facilities to house and to provide
food for these unfortunate persons. The
USDA's food donations in school inventories
may be put to immediate use to care
for victims of natural or local emergencies,
as can food supplies in needy family distribution
centers, local and State warehouses,
and by the rerouting of other foods in
transit. Advance planning for emergency
feeding by State distributing agencies with
school officials, with public and private
relief agencies, and with Civil Defense,
allows for immediate help for displaced
persons when and where disaster strikes.
Indians on reservations have long been
getting USDA-donated foods for their
schools and needy people. Indians who have
left the reservation and are in need of food
assistance benefit in the same way as other
needy families from any . food donation
program available in the locality.
Children and adults in charitable
institutions, such as orphanages, childcare
centers, homes for the aging, and hospitals
serving needy people may benefit
from donated foods that add substance,
better nutrition, and variety to their diets.
Campers attending nonprofit summer
camps for children also benefit from USDAdonated
foods. The sponsor or manager of
such camps may apply for available foods
through the distributing agency of the State
where the camp is located. Donated foods
are not available for weekend or overnight
trips, or for summer camps for adults.
Children and adults in other nations
often benefit from USDA-donated foodsafter
domestic needs have been satisfied.
The Agency for. International Development
administers food donations overseas under
the "Food for Peace" Program.
HOW FOOD DISTRIBUTION WORKS
U.S. Department of Agriculture
offers available foods to any State that has
a food donation program. The USDA pays
for processing and packaging the foods and
for transporting them in carload lots to
receiving points chosen by the State agency.
Foods are donated to States when and in
amounts they request. This donation is intended
to create an additional food use in
supplementing and improving the diets of
children and needy persons.
The USDA acquires foods for donation in
three ways:
Cl It purchases some under Section 6 of
the National School Lunch Act specifically
for schools participating in the National
School Lunch Program.
• It buys others under surplus-removal
pngrams, as authorized in Section 32 of
Public Law 320, as amended.
• It acquires still others through pricesupport
obligations and donates them, according
to Section 416 of the Agricultural
Act of 1949, as amended.
Food purchases are made through competitive
bidding by food packers and proc·
essors. Invitations to bid and award of
sales to eligible bidders are publicly announced.
Within each State, the distribution of
food is administered by an agency of State
government through governmental agencies
of towns, cities, and counties.
There may be no discrimination against
any person because of race, color, or national
origin in the distribution and use of
donated foods.
To help assure the greatest benefit from
donated foods, the State governments in
S PEC IAL COLLI!CTIONS lr: RARE BOOKS
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THE UNIVf,ltSIT'" OF NORTH C AR(111NA AT CRHN'-80RU
cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, provide local agencies and recipients
with information on storing, han·
dling, and preparing the foods.
Donated foods may change in variety
from time to time. Foods available from
price-support and surplus-removal operations
vary according to market conditions
that affect acquisitions under these programs.
Foods purchased especially for the
National School Lunch Program are selected
by the Food and Nutrition Service. Selections
are based on the nutritional needs of
the children, recommendations of State
school lunch officials, and market supplies
and prices.
State distributing agencies have current
information on the foods available for donation.
In addition, the USDA issues a quarterly
report showing what foods have been
distributed, and the quantities distributed
to each category of eligible recipients. Current
copies of this report are available on
request.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information regarding the
Food Distribution Program may be obtained
from:
Food Distribution Division
Food and Nutrition Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C. 20250
This publication supersedes P A -555,
"Direct Food Distribution Program."
U S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1971 0-445-0ZS
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