City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 7, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: HASHIM T. TAYLOR, DIRECTOR, RECREATION, PARKS, AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Retroactive Grant Renewal Application for the Virginia Department of Education At-Risk After School Meal Program for the FY 2027 School Year Sponsored by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities.
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ISSUE: Submission of grant renewal application to the Virginia Department of Education funding the FY27 (September 2026 through June 2027) At-Risk After School Meal Program
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to submit an At-Risk After School Meal Program grant renewal application to the Virginia Department of Education for Fiscal Year 2027 (due date September 15, 2026); and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents required to accept and implement the grant.
BACKGROUND: The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has administered the At-Risk After School Meal Program since FY 2004. The City receives funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Virginia Department of Education to provide after school snacks to the City’s after school recreation programs. The Department contracts with the Alexandria City Public Schools Nutrition Service to provide snacks for the program locations.
Alexandria will receive FY 2027 renewal funding for its At-Risk After School Meal Program. The level of funding for FY 2027 is $250,000 in ORG titled USDA After School Meal 2027 Program, which is reimbursed to the City by the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). A renewal application is required and submitted to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) which is the administering agency.
DISCUSSION: The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities provides nutritious after school snacks and suppers to participants in the RPCA Power-On Program at Charles Barrett, Charles Houston, Leonard Armstrong, Mt. Vernon, Patrick Henry, and William Ramsay Recreation Centers; LINK Club programs at Ferdinand T. Day and Hammond Middle Schools; the school-based Power-On Programs at MacArthur and John Adams; and, the Youth Achieving Greatness and Therapeutic Recreation Programs at Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center during the 2026 to 2027 school year. RENEWAL GRANT PERIOD: October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT: The meals must be served free of charge in order to receive reimbursement from the USDA. There is no requirement for the City to provide either cash or an in-kind match for this program. However, the City is responsible for the normal administrative costs associated with this grant. These costs include financial and reporting oversight provided by the administering agency (Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities), as well as by the Office of Management and Budget and by the Finance Department.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
STAFF:
Aletha Predeoux, Deputy City Manager
Meisha Thomas, Division Chief/Finance, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Tamika Coleman, Acting Deputy Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Randy M. Little, Division Chief/Recreation Services, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Consuella Barbour, Analyst, Office of Management and Budget