The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) operates summer meals programs to address this problem, and we are requesting your help to make access to and participation in summer meals a priority.  In 2013, about 3.5 million children received summer meals – far fewer than the 21 million children who receive free or reduced price lunches through the National School Lunch Program during the school year. This means that during the summer we are not reaching the vast majority of children who rely on school meals to meet their nutritional needs.

 

We can help change this by providing children in your schools with the appropriate information about summer meals at four (4) open sites this summer (Laurel Woods Elementary, Phelps Luck Elementary, Talbott Springs Elementary, and Long Reach High Schools) from June 27 to July 29, 2016. Summer meals will be served to all children, 18 and younger at these sites regardless of what schools they attend or where they live. There are no application or enrollment requirements and all meals will be free.

 

Even if your school will not be offering summer programming or is not an open site, you can encourage students, teachers and staff to share information about the summer meal sites. You can help reach out and connect your families with summer meals before the school year ends and continue to make a difference in the lives of your students even after the school year ends.

 

Please help us feed more children in your communities when school is not in session by becoming a champion for summer meals and by sharing/distributing the attached fliers within your schools and communities.  Together we can raise awareness about the Summer Food Service Program and, ultimately, feed more children this summer.  

 

Thank you as always, for your dedication and commitment to our children.

 

Sincerely,

 

Brian Ralph

Brian Ralph

Director, Food and Nutrition Service