SUMMER MEALS

WORKSHOP Friday, April 24th, 2015

Food Security in Our Region

Eligibility for Free/Reduced Price Meals

The Consequences of Hunger

Lack of nutritious food impairs a child’s ability to concentrate

and perform well in school.

Childhood hunger is liked to:

• Increased hospitalizations, developmental problems,

headaches, stomachaches and even colds;

• Higher levels of behavioral, emotional, and academic

problems;

• Greater risk of truancy and school tardiness.

Federal Programs Help Fight Hunger

The Food and Nutrition Services Division of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers several

programs that help fight hunger and obesity by reimbursing

organizations such as schools, child care centers, non-

profits, and after-school programs for providing healthy

meals to children.

• National School Lunch Program

• School Breakfast Program

• Child and Adult Care Food Program

• Summer Food Service Program

Only 1 out of 7 eligible

children receive free summer

meals in our region.

Summer Food Service Program

Funds provided by the USDA

Administered by the California Department of Education

Children 18 years and younger receive free, nutritious

meals

Organizations, schools, local government agencies, etc.

serve the meals at safe and convenient sites in

communities

Operates during summer months when

school is out

Program Structure USDA • Develops program policy, regulations, & reimbursement rates

• Trains and provides technical assistance to SAs

• Monitors & reviews SA administration of the program

State Agency • Approves sponsor applications & conducts sponsor training

• Monitors operations

• Processes payments

Sponsor Organizations • Locates, recruits, & monitors sites

• Arranges for meals

• Prepares claims for reimbursement & ensures sustainability

Sites • Supervises activities & meal service at site

• Distributes meals & stores food appropriately

• Keeps daily record of meals served

What is a “Sponsor”?

Any organization that can handle the financial,

administrative, and food service responsibilities of running

the program.

What does a “Sponsor” do? • Signs agreement with State Agency setting forth the

responsibilities of each party

• Attends training conducted by State Agency on how to

operate the program

• Maintains these ongoing responsibilities:

• Financial and administrative record keeping

• Manages food service (self-prep or vended)

• Trains sites

• Manages 1-200 sites

• Receives reimbursement from States for meals and administrative

costs

What is a “site”?

The place where meals are served to children.

• Sponsors can be sites too!

What does a “Site” do?

• Attends the training conducted by Sponsor

• Serves meals and supervises meal services

• Tracks the number of meals served

• Stores food appropriately

• Keeps the site clean and sanitary

• Follows program requirements and guidelines

• Conducts any additional programming (i.e. reading

program, physical activities, games, etc.)

Get Involved

• Be a Site – if you are just getting started with summer

meals

• Be a Sponsor – if you’re ready for the responsibility

• Help a Site or Sponsor – transport meals or kids to sites

• Partner with Sites – plan fun educational or physical

activities for kids and teens at the site

• Spread the Word! Hang up signs, send out emails, write

letters, and spread the word to families about where sites

are and how they can get free meals.

Summer Meals Outreach

Promotional Materials

• Flyers, bookmarks, postcards

• Ask schools to send promotional materials home with

their students

• Ask organizations to provide information to the individuals

they serve

• Social Service Organizations

• Doctor Offices

• WIC

Public Service Announcements

• Radio Stations

• Newspapers

• Local News Channels

• Community Websites

Kick-Off Events

• Community Barbecue

• Resource Fair

• Carnival Themed Event

• Sky’s the limit!

Outreach Blitz

• Door-to-Door Outreach • Hand out flyers or door hangers

to communities that surround

sites

• Ask businesses to post a flyer

or hand out information

• Multi-lingual materials

• Enlist Volunteers • United Way’s Volunteer Center

• http://volunteercenter.uwccr.org/

Additional Services & Activities

• Fun, safe, and

educational

• United Way’s Star Readers

Program

• United Way’s Fit Kids Program

• Sports Clinic

• Dance Lessons

• Talent Show

Q & A

THANK YOU! For more information, please contact

Katelyn Niel at katelyn.niel@uwccr.org