For some children, summer vacation marks the beginning of trips to the beach and pool, while for others it’s the end of access to the free and reduced-price school lunch program.
To help bridge the nutrition gap this summer, the Food Bank of Delaware will sponsor the Summer Food Service Program. SFSP is a federally-funded program operated nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and locally by the Delaware Department of Education.
As of June 15, The Food Bank will prepare and distribute free meals to qualified children’s feeding sites throughout the state.
To qualify for free meals, sites must operate in low-income areas where at least half of the children are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program. There are no fees associated with the program.
In Delaware, more than 40,000 children rely on school nutrition programs as their main source of healthy meals – when school ends for the summer so does breakfast and lunch for many. In the past only about 22 percent of eligible children take advantage of the summer feeding program.
Patricia Beebe, Food Bank of Delaware president and CEO, said with unemployment rates at record highs, a troubled housing market and skyrocketing prices, many families will struggle to feed their children this summer.
“We encourage all eligible community organizations and groups to supervise a summer feeding site. Meals are free and delivered directly to your facility.”
Children can expect to see a menu of healthy, kid-friendly foods including peanut butter and jelly, turkey and cheese, apples, yogurt, milk, juice and more.
Sites interested in hosting a summer feeding program in New Castle County may call Stacy Stevens, Children’s Nutrition Program coordinator, at (302) 292-1305, ext 241 or email sstevens@fbd.org.
Statewide, Del. —
