The pandemic and its pain goes on, and so will the nation’s free food service for all children.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that it is extending benefits through the end of the year for schools and other child programs to help all families with children continue receiving free meals.

“This is just the news that everyone needed to see on a Monday!” Grandview School District Superintendent Kenny Rodrequez celebrated on Twitter. “Thanks to @USDA for granting us the flexibility to ensure our students do not go hungry and thanks to all of the @AASAHQ superintendents across the country for continuing to push for this!”

Soon after schools had to shut down last spring, school districts sought relief and the USDA granted waivers that allowed schools and summer programs to distribute meals more easily during the pandemic.

By making food benefits available to all children, the USDA freed schools to help more families — many of which came under new stress during the pandemic — without being bogged down by qualifying paperwork. Now that freedom will continue at least through Dec. 31.

This unprecedented move, the USDA announced, will help ensure — no matter what the situation is on-the-ground — children have access to nutritious food as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA has been and continues to be committed to using the Congressionally appropriated funding that has been made available.

“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a written statement.

“We appreciate the incredible efforts by our school foodservice professionals year in and year out,” Perdue said, “but this year we have an unprecedented situation. This extension of summer program authority will employ summer program sponsors to ensure meals are reaching all children – whether they are learning in the classroom or virtually –  so they are fed and ready to learn, even in new and ever-changing learning environments.”