For immediate release:
June 2, 2003

Contact:
Melanie Madore
Health Program Administrator
888-435-1464

Local organization(s) provide valuable service to area children this summer

When the school year ends, some children not only miss playing with their classmates but they also miss the nutritious meals they receive at school every day. For many families and students who depend on the free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches at school, summer can be a difficult time.

This summer, local organizations will provide nutritious meals to low-income children in the area through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Summer Food Service Program. Eligible participants are encouraged to attend their local meal service sites, which may include schools, parks, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, churches or other areas where children gather in the summertime.

"Children need nutritious meals throughout the year to continue to grow and learn," said Ann McCormack, chief of the Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance, "and we are pleased that agencies throughout Missouri will be offering meals through the Summer Food Service Program."

Two kinds of meal service sites will operate

The meal service is offered at approved sites to children age 18 and under, and to people aged 18 to 21 who are determined by a state or local educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled, and who participate during the school year in an established school program for the mentally or physically disabled. "Open sites" are open to all children in an area that has been designated as having 50 percent or more low-income level families. "Enrolled sites" are sites open only to eligible children who are enrolled in the site's summer program.

The following income criteria are used to determine eligibility of participants at enrolled sites. Children who are members of households receiving Food Stamps or Temporary Assistance are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits.

Income Eligibility Guidelines

(Effective July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003)

FAMILY SIZE
INCOME
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
1
$16,391
$1,366
$316
2
$22,089
$1,841
$425
3
$27,787
$2,316
$535
4
$33,485
$2,791
$644
5
$39,183
$3,266
$754
6
$44,881
$3,741
$864
7
$50,579
$4,215
$973
8
$56,277
$4,690
$1,083
For each additional member add:
+$5,698
+$475
+$110

For more information on Missouri's Summer Food Service Program, contact the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Summer Food Service Program, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102 or call toll-free 888-435-1464.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Sidebar:

Summer Food Service Week, June 1-7

By proclamation of Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated June 1-7, 2003 as Summer Food Service Program Week. SFSP Week is designed to raise awareness of program benefits, promote greater participation of communities, and most importantly, to increase the numbers of eligible children and disabled adults receiving free, nutritious meals during the summer months when school meals are not available. SFSP Week has been planned to coordinate with National Hunger Awareness Day on June 5th.

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Editor's Note:

A list of agencies sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program and their meal service sites, along with the sponsors' contact persons and phone numbers, can be accessed on the web at http://www.dhss.state.mo.us/dnhs_pdfs/R_SFSP_site_list_2003.pdf.