Richmond Public Schools announced on June 3 that it will participate in the Seamless Summer Option, providing free meals to all children at designated sites during the summer break. The program ensures that meals are available without charge and are offered equally to all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, or age. There will be no discrimination in the course of meal service.
Meals will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at several schools across Richmond. Children must remain on-site while eating their meals. Sites include Broad Rock Elementary School, Chimborazo Elementary School, J.B. Fisher Elementary School, J.H. Blackwell Elementary School, Linwood Holton Elementary School, William Fox Elementary School (June 8 – July 9), Thomas C. Boushall Middle School and Thomas H. Henderson Middle School (June 8 – July 9), Huguenot High School and Richmond Technical Center (June 8 – July 16), as well as John Marshall High School (June 8 – July 24). Breakfast and lunch times vary by location.
The announcement also emphasized compliance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations prohibiting discrimination based on protected categories such as race or disability during meal service operations.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English for those who need it. Persons with disabilities requiring alternative communication methods can contact the responsible state or local agency administering the program or USDA’s TARGET Center by phone or through the Federal Relay Service.
To file a program discrimination complaint regarding this meal service initiative, individuals can complete Form AD-3027—available online from USDA—or submit a written letter detailing their concerns to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at USDA headquarters via mail, fax, or email.
