USDA and DC Officials Kick-Off Summer Food Service Program for Children

Washington, DC, June 23, 2011 – USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Audrey Rowe joined D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) representatives at the 8th Annual "Free Summer Meals Kick off", a celebration of USDA's Summer Food Service Program in the District of Columbia. This summer, OSSE will offer more than 300 feeding sites throughout the city, providing free, nutritious meals to children up to age 18.

"Each summer, millions of families struggle to provide their children with nutritious meals when schools close, said Rowe. "The Summer Food Service Program fills this gap by marshalling resources to curb food insecurity and end hunger for our nation's children. We are proud of the District of Columbia and all the partnerships that make summer meals available to D.C. children. The commitment is not only admirable, but serves to encourage other states striving to provide nourishment to children in need."

During the regular school year, more than 21 million children nationwide receive free and reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program, yet just more than 3 million kids are fed in summer meal programs. In July 2010, approximately 80 percent of eligible children (more than 28,000) were served by the D.C. Free Summer Meals Program, according to Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation, the Food Research and Action Center's (FRAC) analysis of national participation in Summer Nutrition Programs. Nationwide, only 15 percent of children participate in the SFSP program.

Rowe also focused on the administration's commitment to feed more hungry children this summer. She touted renewed efforts by USDA and its partners to highlight the important nutrition benefits provided by the SFSP, as well as other healthy meal options for low-income children. This summer:

• Let's Move! Faith and Communities (part of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative) will work with partners to host new feeding sites at congregations and neighborhood organizations;
• the Corporation for National and Community Service's 515 AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates will work at anti-hunger organizations across the country to feed more children in programs, including the SFSP;
• sponsors will benefit from new waivers to simplify existing regulations in the SFSP to streamline ways to feed low-income children when school is out;
• and several states will test innovative enhancements to the SFSP, including the provision of food backpacks to provide assistance over weekends, and meal delivery to reach children in rural areas.

Improving child nutrition is the focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signed into law by President Obama in December 2010. The legislation reauthorized the SFSP and USDA's other child nutrition programs. The Act allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, the chance to make real reforms to school meals and increase access to these critical programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is also the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the child nutrition programs, which touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. These programs work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger.

In Washington, D.C., families can find summer meal sites by calling toll free 311, texting 202.6565.EAT (328) or visiting dcfreesummermeals.org. Families can also call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-Hungry or 1-877-8-Hambre for information on all FNS nutrition assistance programs.