For Immediate Release:
March 3, 2006

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

State seeks local groups to help provide free meals to needy children this summer

Every summer – when school is not in session and cafeteria programs are not operating – hundreds of community organizations across Missouri make sure thousands of needy children get a nutritious meal on a regular basis. But more organizations could help this program reach the children who need it.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is seeking groups to operate sites that provide free meals for children again this summer. The department's Summer Food Service Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reimburses organizations for the meals they serve as well as offers setup funds to help the local programs get started.

“It is important that children who depend on school lunch and breakfast programs for a nutritious meal are not forgotten during the summer months,” said Melanie Madore, associate chief of the health department's Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance.

In 2005, Summer Food Service Program sites provided nutritious meals and snacks to about 75,700 children in Missouri every day. That figure represents only about 22 percent of the children in Missouri who are eligible for the program, according to the health department.

“Although the number of Missouri children receiving meals through the program is steadily growing, additional sponsors would help boost the number of children benefiting from nutritious meals and snacks this coming summer,” said Madore.

Meals and snacks provided by the Summer Food Service Program are served to children at a variety of places such as churches, schools, playgrounds, camps, migrant centers, YMCAs, YWCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs and parks. More than 3.4 million meals were served to children free of charge last year through the program.

Organizations that can apply to become program sponsors include:

• Public or private non-profit schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program during the regular school year
• Residential summer camps
• Units of local, municipal, county or state government
• Private non-profit organizations
• Public or private non-profit colleges and universities operating a National Youth Sports Program

The Summer Food Service Program provides nutritious meals to needy children up to age 18 during the summer months. The program also serves people over 18 who are determined by a state educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and are enrolled in a school program for the mentally or physically handicapped during the regular school year.

More information about the Summer Food Service Program and sponsor or site eligibility is available at www.dhss.mo.gov/sfsp, by telephone (toll free) at 888-435-1464 or RELAY MISSOURI for the Hearing and Speech Impaired at 1-800-735-2966, or by writing to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Summer Food Service Program, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO, 65102.

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, DHSS 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, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.