250.70—Food assistance in situations of distress.
(a) Organizational eligibility.
In situations of distress in which needs for food assistance cannot be met under other provisions of this Part, organizations (including agencies of State and Federal government) may be eligible to receive donated foods for congregate meal service or household distribution to victims of the situation of distress. Applications submitted to the distributing agency for the receipt and distribution of donated foods in accordance with paragraphs (b)(2) and (c)(2) of this section shall be initially submitted in writing if circumstances permit and, if not, confirmed in writing in a timely manner. Both the applications and the written approval for the use of USDA commodities shall be maintained in accordance with the recordkeeping requirements of this Part.
(b) Congregate meal service—
(1) Approval authority and duration.
Distributing agencies may review and approve applications for the donation of foods for use in preparing congregate meals for a period not to exceed 30 days for victims of situations of distress in instances in which the need for such assistance meets the conditions of paragraph (a) of the definition of situation of distress in § 250.3. Following approval of a request, distributing agencies shall report the information listed in paragraph (b)(2) of this section to the appropriate FNSRO within 24 hours. In instances when the distributing agency extends the originally approved distribution period from less than 30 days to the 30-day limit, it shall notify the FNSRO of such extensions. Distributing agencies shall request approval from FNS, via the appropriate FNSRO, for donations to exceed 30 days. Upon determining that there is a need for the donation of foods for congregate meals in instances other than those that meet the criteria in paragraph (a) of the definition of situation of distress in § 250.3, the distributing agency shall forward applications to the appropriate FNSRO for submission to FNS for prior approval. FNS will determine the duration of such donations, taking into consideration the magnitude of the situation. Determinations as to the length of donations may be revised as developing circumstances dictate.
(2) Applications.
(i)
Organizations wishing to receive donated foods for use in preparing meals shall submit applications to the distributing agency. Applications shall, to the extent possible, include the following information:
(ii)
In addition, information on the number and location of sites providing meals shall be submitted to the distributing agency as such sites are established.
(c) Household distribution—
(1) Approval authority and duration.
In instances in which the distributing agency has determined that the distribution of donated foods to households is appropriate, the distributing agency shall submit applications requesting approval for such distributions to the appropriate FNSRO for submission to FNS for approval. FNS will determine the duration of the donations, taking into consideration the magnitude of the situation. Such determinations may be revised as developing circumstances dictate.
(2) Applications.
(i)
Organizations wishing to receive and distribute donated foods to households shall submit applications to the distributing agency. Applications shall, to the extent possible, include the following information:
(G)
Statement of assurance that simultaneous disaster food stamp benefits and commodity assistance will not be provided to individual households; and
(ii)
In addition, information on the number and location of sites shall be provided to the distributing agency as such sites are established.
(3) Collection of household information.
In a format prescribed by the distributing agency, any entity (i.e., Federal, State, or local) distributing donated foods to households in an area where the issuance of disaster food stamp benefits has been approved shall, at a minimum, collect the information listed below. Such information shall be forwarded to the distributing agency and maintained by the distributing agency in accordance with the recordkeeping requirements contained in this part, except that such information may, at the discretion of the distributing agency, be maintained by the organization distributing commodities if such organization is an agency of the State government.
(B)
Understands that misrepresentation of need, and the sale or exchange of the donated food are prohibited and could result in a fine, imprisonment, or both;
(d) Quantities and value of donated foods.
The distributing agency shall make donated foods available to eligible organizations based on the caseload factor information provided by the organizations.
(e) Types of donated foods authorized for donation.
Organizations providing food assistance in situations of distress are eligible to receive donated foods under section 416, section 32, section 709, and section 4(a).
(f) Summary report.
Within 45 days following termination of the assistance, the distributing agency shall provide a summary report to the appropriate FNSRO using Form FNS-292, Report of Coupon Issuance and Commodity Distribution for Disaster Relief.
(g) Replacement.
Distributing agencies which decide to seek replacement of foods used from State and/or local inventories for situations of distress shall file their request in writing to the FNSRO within 30 days following termination of the assistance. FNS will replace such foods to the extent that foods are available.