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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Dear CACFP Sponsoring Organizations and Centers:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">On November 27, 2024, USDA- Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) approved the Maine Dept. of Education’s waiver request to allow Program operators to serve meals in non-congregate settings and
to adjust the time of meal service for participants in attendance and fasting to observe Ramadan in 2025. The waiver is effective from February 24, 2025, through April 4, 2025. For participants in the CACFP, the waiver
<u>does not apply to family day care homes (FDHC) or childcare centers</u>. However, participating centers and FDCH providers wishing to request a waiver of the provisions in this section during Ramadan may submit a request for Maine Dept. of Education concurrence,
and FNS will consider them on a case-by-case basis. Please see the attached Maine 2025 Ramadan waiver response for full details.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">All</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> CACFP operators that desire to utilize the waiver must submit a CACFP 2025 Waiver Request</span></u><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">.
Sponsors of FDCH Providers, please share this information with the Providers you work with.
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Sponsors of FDCH Providers must complete the form and submit on behalf of their applicable Providers.
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Please use this link to complete the waiver-
<a href="https://forms.office.com/g/UuUiPPYfS3">https://forms.office.com/g/UuUiPPYfS3</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Sponsors of FDCH providers or centers that anticipate a need to accommodate participants who will be fasting during Ramadan 2025, please submit the Waiver Request no later than January 17,
2025. This will allow enough time for the State Agency to consider the request and work with FNS as needed. Please contact any of the CACFP Nutrition Consultants with related questions-</span>
<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/resources/contact">Contact Us - Nutrition | Department of Education</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The Maine Dept. of Education- Child Nutrition CACFP Team
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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