The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today hosted a celebration at The Rivers apartments in Chesapeake to launch summer meals programs that will help children in the region maintain access to food during months they’re off from school.
Representatives from Chesapeake Public Schools, the No Kid Hungry Virginia campaign, led by Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, and the Southeast United Dairy Association (SUDA) joined USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and USDA Rural Development (RD) in serving food and providing nutrition education to children from The Rivers and surrounding community.
“We are so grateful for the collaborative efforts to spread the word about summer meals in the Chesapeake area,” said Patricia Dombroski, Administrator for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Mid-Atlantic Region. “The work to promote the Summer Meals Program and the partnerships with First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe’s office and our sister agency, Rural Development, helps young children and teens stay healthy and strong and ensure they return to school in the fall ready to learn.”
Unfortunately, barriers such as extreme weather, transportation challenges and low family income block many kids from getting the meals they need during summer months. Together, the organizations involved today are working to overcome these barriers and encouraging effective, efficient policies that ensure as many kids as possible are getting the healthy food they need.
USDA FNS administers the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) nationwide with the help of state and local partners like Mrs. McAuliffe, the Virginia Department of Health, Chesapeake Public Schools, nonprofit organizations and individuals.
USDA RD has taken an active role in Virginia in working with local partners to promote the program and encourage its rural properties to serve as safe, fun locations where children can get nutritious meals throughout the summer.
SFSP ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. This summer, USDA plans to serve more than 200 million free meals to children 18 years and under at approved SFSP sites across the country. Last year in Virginia 137 SFSP sponsors served 1,523 sites. Registration is still underway for this summer and the number of sponsors and sites will hopefully be higher than last year.
The First Lady’s office partners with the national No Kid Hungry campaign to raise awareness about summer meals programs in the area, as well as promote alternative breakfast and afterschool meal programs.
Chesapeake Public Schools’ School Nutrition Services this year has introduced The Nutrition Express and Cruisin’ Café bus, which will serve dual purposes of nutrition education (Nutrition Express) during the school year and meal service (Cruisin' Cafe) during school breaks.
More information on summer meals programs in Virginia
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Meals are FREE to children and teens age 18 and younger who come to a summer meals site
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Food served follows USDA nutrition guidelines and is paid for by the USDA
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Summer meals sites are at schools, churches, community centers and other places that are safe for kids and teens
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Parents don’t need to apply to the program to get a free summer meal for their kids. They can just bring their child to a summer meals site in their community.
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Families can text FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877 or call 866-3HUNGRY or 2-1-1 to find a summer meals site in their neighborhood.
USDA's Summer Meal Site Finder (http://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks) makes it easy for families to locate their nearest summer meals sites through a free, web-based application that features an easily-searchable map.