DHS Seeks To Increase Upcoming Summer Food Service Program
Monday, February 02, 2009 | 06:13am
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Human Services is looking for sponsors and more feeding sites for the upcoming Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in order that low income children may have additional opportunities to receive healthy, nutritious meals during summer vacation. Regulated and funded nationally through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), this nutrition program is designed to assist children who depend upon school lunch and breakfast programs when schools are in session and whose needs continue into the summer.
To implement the SFSP, DHS contracts annually with a wide variety of local agencies (“sponsors”) to prepare, deliver and serve free meals and snacks to children at approved locations (“sites”) in low income areas. In 2008, 46 sponsors operated the program at 1,378 sites across Tennessee. These feeding locations included parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, schools, colleges, churches, camps, public housing developments and other sites accessible to needy children.
Administrative sponsorship of the program is limited to the following organizations:
Public and private non-profit school food authorities;
State, county or municipal governments;
Colleges and universities participating in the National Youth Sports Program;
Residential public or private non-profit summer camps; and
Private non-profit organizations.
Sponsors must agree to serve meals to all children in attendance, regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
For information on initiating a new SFSP or linking up as a site with an existing program, contact David Farmer or Doug Hutchison before March 16, 2009, at (615) 313‑4749. They can also be reached by e-mail at david.farmer@state.tn.us or doug.hutchison@state.tn.us. The deadline for new agencies to submit applications for sponsorship to DHS is at least 30 days prior to the anticipated starting date of their summer meal program.
For more information on the Summer Food Service Program and other Human Services programs, please visit our website: www.state.tn.us/humanserv .
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