Did you know millions of children and teens are at-risk of going hungry this summer? Out of every six students that receive a free or reduced cost school meal, only one receives a Summer Food Service Program meal.
What is the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)? Funds are provided by Federal Government to State Agencies such as the Department of Agriculture here in Nevada, with these funds free and nutritious meals are provided to children ages 18 and younger by local agencies at safe and convenient sites in the communities (www.usdafns.invisionmeeting.com). The purpose of this program is to extend the free and reduced lunch program through the summer to all children, but especially to those who depend on free and reduced lunch through out the school year.
The Frontier Community Action Agency (FCAA) is an approved SFSP Site for Winnemucca. This includes taking on the financial and administrative responsibility, ordering, and prepping food. Our staff has been trained by the Nevada Department of Agriculture, to then in turn train local volunteer to help serve meals according to the Health Department and Department of Agriculture standards ensuring children receive a healthy and nutritious meals through the summer.
The FCAA is thankful for their partnerships with Wade Distributing, the USDA and the Nevada Department of Agriculture to bring the Summer Food Service Program to Humboldt County. This is the fifth year the FCAA will sponsor the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), lunches will be served to all children 18 and younger, free of charge.
"Hunger doesn't take a summer vacation, and the Summer Food Service Program helps to ensure that disadvantaged children receive the wholesome, nutritious meals they need when school is out," said Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon. "Through these demonstration projects, we hope to find innovative ways to increase access to and participation in this valuable program, to help fill the summer nutrition gap." http://www.fns.usda.gov.
Through the SFSP the FCAA hopes to encourage children to adopt healthy eating habits, develop a positive attitude toward nutritious foods, learn to accept a wide variety of foods, establish good food habits, and share and socialize with other children. Every day the lunch includes a meat, grain, fruit and/or vegetable, as well as, milk. Children and families are encouraged to enjoy the program, and we welcome all of those 18 and younger interested in a free lunch to stop by throughout the summer. Below you will find the site name(s), address (es), telephone number(s), whom to contact for additional information, and the times (starting and ending) and dates meals will be served.
Last summer the FCAA along with many dedicated volunteers served free lunches to 3,441 children in Winnemucca and 1,169 in Lovelock giving a grand total of 4,610 children fed through the summer months.
While nutrition and feeding our youth is the top priority of the SFSP and the Action Agency, programming is what keeps the children fed and able to keep coming back year after year. This takes volunteers and a lot of them, especially in the months of June, July and August. Volunteers can help with basics needs like transporting and setting up food, or cleaning up the meal site. In addition, they can also plan and do educational or recreational activities with the children.
If you would like to volunteer, learn more about the SFSP, or have any questions regarding this event or our organization, please contact us at (775) 623-9003. Or stop by our offices, located at 640 Melarkey Street, Suite 3, Winnemucca. The more people know about the social issues affecting our area, the more likely they are to take action to help or know how to help their own children and families.
Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, gender or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.
Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should write or call immediately to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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