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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Secretary of Agriculture extends Food Box Program

Credit: WMGT
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Secretary of Agriculture extends Food Box Program
Secretary of Agriculture extends Food Box Program

BONAIRE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)-- Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, visited Bonaire Elementary School in Houston County, to announce the extension of the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program.

News at 6 i'm tucker sargent.

Shelby coates will join us shortly.

Our top story tonight at 6: u-s secretary of agriculture, sonny perdue in houston county today to make an important announcement for families across the country.

41nbc's peyton lewis has more on what he had to say.

"we are this is the announcement , feel comfortable now that we can extend the summer program waivers through december, allowing every child to eat free no matter their economic circumstances."

Sonny perdue was bonaire elementary school to announce the extension of the usda farmers to families food box program.

The program gives families food, and has distributed over 75 million boxes of fresh produce since may.

Houston county schools superintendent, dr. mark scott, says the expansion of the program will be a big help for families in his school district.

"those couple months that we closed schools down, our school nutrition staff served over 1 million meals.

Family situations have changed in our community, and i really think that our families will appreciate the secretary and his staff making an effort to provide free meals for all students."

The farmers to families boxes were originally a part of the first coronavirus response act.

Each extension of the food box program has been a result of extra funding.

Congress approved an estimated budget to continue the farmers to families program until december 31.

Secretary perdue says if the money does not stretch into 2021, schools will need to revert back to regular protocol.

"if there's no additional funding coming we're going to use all of the money that congress has appropriated, whether it's december 31, or before.

But as of january 1, we are saying that schools will need to revert back to the normal school feeding program which is free and reduced lunch for the kids."

Director of school nutrition, meredith potter, says the school system will continue to provide meals and support for students throughout this school year.

"funding or not we're going to continue to provide food for our kids.

We adjusted in march and c1 3 b13 we'll do it again."

In bonaire, peyton lewis, 41nbc news.

The program is

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