DHS Announces 2011 Summer Food Program

LOCAL AGENCIES TO OFFER FEEDING SITES TO CHILDREN WITH NUTRITION NEEDS

NASHVILLE ‑‑ The Tennessee Department of Human Services will administer the 2011 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in an effort to ensure that low-income children have additional opportunities to receive healthy, nutritious meals during summer vacation.  Authorized and funded by Congress, and administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the states, this activity is specifically designed for children who depend upon school meals and whose ‘nutrition needs’ continue after schools close for summer vacation.  

 

To implement the SFSP in Tennessee, DHS contracts annually with several local agencies (“sponsors”) to prepare, deliver and serve free meals and snacks to children at approved locations (“sites”) in low-income areas. In 2010, 58 sponsors served more than 2.6 million meals at 1,500 feeding sites statewide. Locations included parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, schools, churches, camps, housing projects, and other places accessible to needy children.

 

“During the school year low-income children receive free and reduced-price meals – and for some, that represents the only way to get the daily nutrition they need,” said DHS Commissioner Raquel Hatter. “This program ensures that their nutritional needs will be met in the summer months as well.”

 

Sponsorship of the SFSP is limited to the following organizations:

n  Public and private nonprofit school food authorities

n  State, county or municipal governments

n  Colleges and universities participating in the National Youth Sports Program

n  Residential public or private nonprofit summer camps

n  Private non-profit organizations

 

Sponsors must agree to serve meals to all children in attendance regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. For information on becoming an SFSP sponsor or linking up with an existing sponsor, contact David Farmer or Doug Hutchison, preferably before March 11, 2011, at  (615) 313‑4749. They also can be reached by e-mail at david.farmer@tn.gov or doug.hutchison@tn.gov. 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: http://tennessee.gov/humanserv/adfam/afs_cafp.html .

 

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