The USDA, through the Massachusetts Department of Early and Secondary Education (DESE), enforces strict compliance to its rules and regulations concerning health, nutrition, safety, and non-discrimination, as well as record keeping and training.

• DESE audits our financials, menus, meal counts, and employee records, and visits a sampling of our sites very 1-2 years. All audits/visits are unannounced.

• All new sites must be cleared by DESE. Our Program Manager serves as our Site Supervisor, responsible for visiting each site (new and old) at required intervals each summer and completing all USDA reports covering general set up and compliance with safety protocols, meal service supervision, record keeping, and other measures.

• We communicate information on each site to the health departments in each town each year, including dates, meal times, and number of children expected. The Orleans Health Department inspects our kitchen at Holy Spirit annually. At least one Serv-Safe trained person on our staff is present at all times.

• Our staff and the staffs of our recreation partners are trained each year on the latest USDA policies and procedures. Everyone must complete training each year.

F4K’s finances are kept separate and independent of the Church of the Holy Spirit; there is no co-mingling of funds. In addition, Food 4 Kids’ operation is reviewed by the church’s Finance Committee before, during, and after each summer. And F4K’s financials are reviewed each year when the church financials are audited.