Florida Summer Meal Program: Reaching Out
Posted June 19, 2015 05:20 am
TALLAHASSEE,
FL - Eighty-six percent of children in Florida who
qualify for a free or
reduced-price lunch in summer
don't participate, according to
a report recently released by
the Food Research and Action
Center.
Debra
Susie, president and chief
executive of Florida Impact, who
runs the state's summer lunch
program, said her organization
is reaching out to parents.
"Eligible households with children receive an oversize postcard that lets those families know 'this is where you go to find out if there is a summer food site close to you'," she said.
The number of children served
each July actually is up - by
about 13,000 children in 2014
compared with the year before.
Florida Impact has joined the
Department of Agriculture and
Meals on Wheels to bring food to
children who don't have the
transportation to make it to a
regular food site.
Congress is set to renew funding
for summer lunch programs this
fall. Susie said she hopes
lawmakers will expand the
effort.
"We have such confidence and
support for the summer food and
the after-school supper program
that I'm looking forward to
seeing what we can do with this
congressional reauthorization to
make them even better," she
said.
Congress also will consider a
proposal to streamline the
process so schools can apply for
both the summer and school-year
programs at the same time.
Photos/graphics; links: added/updated/ by the Observer
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