Washington, D.C. – Late last night following a letter from U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, the USDA approved a waiver for the West Virginia Office of Child Nutrition to prepare to feed children meals following the Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option guidelines if West Virginia schools close due to the coronavirus outbreak. This approval allows West Virginia to be reimbursed for the meals provided to our most vulnerable students across the state outside of a school setting to avoid unnecessary large groups during the outbreak.

“West Virginia is home to over 120,000 children who receive free school meals. This is more than 120,000 children who would go hungry without schools providing the food these children and their families rely on. The USDA has approved the waiver application for the West Virginia Office of Child Nutrition to ensure these students don’t go hungry if West Virginia schools are closed during the coronavirus outbreak. I am glad Secretary Perdue agrees this is an urgent matter and hope that this will help our state leaders make the right decisions to protect all West Virginians from this virus, including closing our schools if necessary,” said Senator Manchin.

Last week, Senator Manchin launched an information resources page where West Virginians can learn more about the coronavirus outbreak and how to protect themselves and their families. To learn more please click here.