To
improve the diets of the elderly and to increase the market for
domestically produced foods acquired under surplus removal or price
support operations.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Food
is made available for use in the preparation of congregate or home-delivered
meals by nutrition programs for the elderly. Each provider may solicit
voluntary contributions for meals furnished in accordance with guidelines
established by the Commissioner, taking into consideration the income
ranges of eligible individuals in local communities and other sources
of income to the provider. However, each individual participant
decides what he or she will contribute toward the cost of the meal;
meals are free to eligible persons who do not make any contribution.
Donated foods may not be sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed
of (authorized distribution excepted) without prior, specific approval
of the Department.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Such State, Trust Territories and
Federal agencies that are designated as distributing agencies by
the Governor, legislature, or other authority may receive and distribute
donated foods. Elderly nutrition programs that are funded under
Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 must apply to their
State Agency on Aging for commodities or cash in lieu thereof; elderly
nutrition programs for Indians on reservations that are funded under
Title VI of the Older Americans Act must apply to FNS Regional Offices
for food assistance after receiving approval from the Department
of Health and Human Services.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Foods donated to nutrition programs
for the elderly may be used for the benefit of all served. Persons
age 60 or older, and their spouses (regardless of age) are eligible
to receive congregate or home-delivered meals. Additional eligible
persons include disabled or handicapped persons, not yet 60, who
reside in housing facilities occupied primarily by the elderly
and at which congregate meal service for the elderly is provided.
Each area Agency on Aging shall establish procedures to offer
a meal, on the same basis as meals are provided to participating
older individuals, to individuals providing volunteer services
during the meals hours. Individuals interested in participating
should contact their State Office on Aging.
Credentials/Documentation:
Applicant organizations must apply on forms furnished by the State
Agency on Aging or by the FNS regional office. This program is
excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A- 87.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is eligible for coverage
under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."
An applicant should consult the office or official designated as
the single point of contact in his or her State for more information
on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for
assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. This
program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-102.
Application
Procedure: All States now have distributing
agencies, no applications necessary. Nutrition programs for the
elderly must apply to State distributing agencies on their forms.
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No.
A-110.
Award
Procedure: Not applicable.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
Title III program agreements are renewed annually and Title VI
agreement renewals vary from 1-3 years unless withdrawal is requested
or required because of program irregularities.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Foods or, where applicable,
cash in lieu thereof for nutrition programs for the elderly are
donated pursuant to section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965,
as amended. The current appropriation is divided by the percentage
of meals served in the preceding year by each State and Indian tribal
organization.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Food donations
continuous.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Annual financial status report.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 "Audit
of States, Local Governments, and Non-profit Organizations, "
State and local governments, and non-profit organizations that
expend Federal financial assistance of $300,000 or more within
any fiscal year shall have either a single audit or (in certain
cases) a program specific audit made for that year. Audits may
be conducted less frequently under conditions specified in A-133.
Records:
Adequate to account for all receipts and dispositions; to be retained
for 3 years following the close of the fiscal year.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 12-3503-0-1-605.
Obligations:
FY 01 $151,790,419; FY 02 est $150,414,641; and FY 03 est $000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
From $59,181 to $14,705,389 in FY 2001.
During fiscal year 2001, the nutrition program for the elderly served
approximately 252.4 million meals.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
7 CFR 240, 250.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Food and Nutrition Service
Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Food Distribution Division, Food and
Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, Alexandria, VA 22302.
Telephone: (703) 305-2680. Contact: Les Johnson, Director.
Web
Site Address: http://www.fns.usda.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Programs 93.045 and 93.047 Special Programs for the Aging relating
to nutrition services and Indian programs respectively are examples
of projects that have been funded under this program. Both of these
programs supply supportive services including nutrition services
to older Americans.
