Food That’s In When
School is Out
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During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast
and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. What
happens when school lets out? Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the
learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle
for poor performance once school begins again. Hunger also may make children
more prone to illness and other health issues. The Summer Food Service Program
is designed to fill that nutrition gap and make sure children can get the
nutritious meals they need.
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Want to help end hunger this summer?
Here are a few ways you can
help: |
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Become a Sponsor |
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Being a sponsor requires the highest level of commitment. Sponsoring means
acting as the organizer for the Summer Food Service Program sites. Public or
private non-profit schools, local, municipal, county, tribal or state
government, private non-profits, public or private non-profit camps, and private
or non-profit universities or colleges are examples of local organizations that
often serve as Summer Food Service Program sponsors. Sponsors must be able to
provide a capable staff, managerial skills, and food service capabilities. A
sponsor may provide its own meals, purchase meals through an agreement with an
area school, or contract for meals with a food vendor.
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Open a Feeding Site |
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The Summer Food Service Program reaches only a fraction of the children in need.
The primary reason for the limited access to the program is that there are not
enough feeding sites. Your community building or place of faith could become a
feeding site. Sites are the physical locations were food is served. Each site
location must work with a Summer Food Service Program sponsor that is
financially and administratively responsible for the meal service at the site.
You can also help by coordinating site participation with other youth activity
programs in your area.
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Volunteer |
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While feeding children is the top priority of the Summer Food Service Program,
programming is what keeps children coming back. This takes volunteers – and LOTS
of them – especially in June, July and August. Volunteers can help with basics like
transporting food, setting up or cleaning up a site—they also plan and do
educational or recreational activities with the children. Contact your State
agency to find a SFSP Sponsor or feeding site to volunteer with in your area.
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Share |
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Tell others how the Summer Food Service Program helps feed hungry children and
discuss how they or their organization can help. The more people know about the
issues, the more likely they are to take action to help end hunger or know how
to help their own children. |
Last modified:
03/29/2011
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