Summer Meals Available to Children as School Year Ends
Summer Food Service Program Kicks Off 2017 Cycle
NASHVILLE— Local Summer Food Service Program meal sites have opened to children ages 18 and under across the state. The Summer Food Service Program, or SFSP, is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). The purpose of the summer meal program is to ensure children and teens that have access to free and reduced price meals during the school year also have access to meals during the summer months. Meal sites are often found at community centers, schools, parks, and other locations throughout communities.
More than 3.6 million meals were served last summer at more than 2,300 meal sites across the state. According to Feeding America, 1 in 4 Tennessee children may be at risk of hunger. There remains a need for eligible SFSP sponsors, especially in rural counties and remote areas. Eligible sponsors include schools, private non-profit organizations, government entities, and non-profit residential camps. Sponsors are reimbursed on a per meal basis for meals served to eligible children and may serve as a sponsor or a site location.
“The Summer Food Service Program shows how local, state and federal partners can work together to make a lasting impact on the well-being of Tennessee’s children,” said TDHS Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes. “We appreciate the tremendous effort of our SFSP sponsors and their commitment to the program.”
The summer program serves as a support for children and families and has become a valuable resource in local communities.
Specific meal site hours of operation vary. To find out where summer meal locations are in your area, please visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks, the services directory at www.kidcentraltn.com, or text “food” to 877-877.
In addition to children 18 and under, a person 19 years of age and older who has a mental or physical disability and participates during the school year in a public or private non-profit school program established for individuals with disabilities, is also eligible to receive meals.
If your organization is interested in sponsoring the SFSP in your community next summer, or becoming a feeding site under an existing sponsor, please contact the Department of Human Services by e-mail at TNSFSP.DHS@tn.gov or by phone at (615) 313-4749.
For more information on the Summer Food Service Program visit: http://tn.gov/humanservices/topic/learn-about-the-summer-food-service-program or http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program-sfsp.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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CONTACT: Devin Stone
OFFICE: 615-313-5786