Feeding Appalachia's hungry children through the summer

[theHandpuppet]

For many poor and low income children, the meals provided at school may be the only food they receive. That means that during the summer these children may have no source for regular meals and it's up to us to make up the difference. No child in America should go to bed hungry every night and wake every morning to another day without food. The organization Feeding America has a backpack/summer meals program that addresses this problem.

http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/child-hunger/summer-food-program.aspx
Summer Food Program
Summer Food Program Concept
While over 21 million children participated in the free or reduced priced school meal program in 2013, 3.5 million children received meals during the summer months, largely due to the lack of local programs.
To help meet the nutritional needs of children during the summer months, several of our food banks operate summer feeding programs.

Program Summary
The mission of the Summer Food Program is to meet the needs of hungry children in the summer by providing them with nutritious meals and snacks when other resources are not available. Summer Food Programs may be meal based programs, typically reimbursed through the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), or may be innovative distribution models that are specifically designed to fill the gap in services for children during the summer months.

Program Objective
• Provide nutritious, healthy meals, food packages, vouchers and/or snacks to children at-risk of hunger in the summer months when school is not in session.
• Distribute food in easily accessible and safe environments.
National Program Data
• Last year, 131 member food banks participate in the summer food program
• The Summer Food Program nearly 8 million meals were distributed to children through Feeding America food banks.

Participating food banks in Central Appalachia:
West Virginia: http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx?state=WV
Kentucky: (none listed for Appalachian region) http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx?state=KY
North Carolina: http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx?state=NC
Tennessee: http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx?state=TN
Ohio: http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx?state=OH&Page=1

Some states listed above have few or one food bank for their Appalachian region. If you know of other Appalachian food banks with similar summer meals/backback programs, can you list them here? I’ll start….

Scioto County, Ohio
The Steven A. Hunter Hope Fund http://stevenshopefund.org./
The Hope Fund’s summer meals program: http://stevenshopefund.org./SummerMeals.html

[A Little Weird]

1. Thanks for posting

It's appalling that a program like this is needed in our country. I wish we, as a nation, cared as much about eradicating hunger within our borders as we did building newer and better weapons.

[theHandpuppet]

2. Just think how many hungry children could be fed...

... for the cost of one fighter jet.

[theHandpuppet]

3. Summer food programs for children -- Kentucky

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
"Food That's In When School Is Out"

Bridging the gap when school is not in session, more than 1,000 sites in Kentucky provide almost 2 million breakfasts, lunches and snacks to Kentucky children annually through the Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP).

Go to http://education.ky.gov/federal/scn/pages/summer-food-service-program-(sfsp).aspx
Follow the link to the "Free Summer Meal Locater"

[theHandpuppet]

4. Summer Food Programs for Children -- West Virginia

What I'd really like from this site is a list of the actual feeding sites!

http://wvde.state.wv.us/child-nutrition/sfsp/
Office of Child Nutrition
Summer Food Service Program

Overview

When school is out, many children are at risk for poor nutrition. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federal program that ensures children (18 years and younger) in lower-income areas continue to receive free, nutritious meals during the summer when they do not have access to the School Breakfast Program or National School Lunch Program.

Healthy summer meals may be served at a variety of sites, such as schools, parks, camps, housing complexes, churches and town halls. Many sites offer organized and/or recreational activities with the meal. Meals may be prepared on site or transported from another location.

Most sponsors may be approved to receive reimbursement for serving up to two meals or one meal and a snack per day (usually breakfast and lunch or lunch and a snack). Camps may claim up to three meals per day. All meals must follow the SFSP USDA Meal Pattern requirements and dietary specifications.

Here's another site:
http://wv.thebeehive.org/school/k-12-students/how-choose-camp/summer-food-programs-kids

How can I find a feeding site in my area?
To find a feeding site in your area, contact those organizations in your community that are offering an activities program. Organizations offering activity programs are often local schools, community centers, recreation centers and faith based organizations. If you are unable to find a feeding site in your area, please contact your State agency and ask them for the location of the nearest feeding site.

You may also contact the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Public Information Staff at 703-305-2286.