Nearly 18 million students depend on free or reduced-price school lunches and breakfasts for nine months out of the year. For many of these children, summer vacation exposes them to an increased risk of hunger and developmental decline. Good nutrition is essential for learning in school. The Summer Food Service Program gives the Frontier Community Action Agency an opportunity to ensure that all children, ages 18 and younger, continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session, improving a child's physical and social development. The Summer Food Service Program helps students return to school ready to learn. (Information from http://www.fns.usda.gov.)
The Frontier Community Action Agency (FCAA), along with Wade Distributing, USDA and the Department of Education, have once again teamed up to bring the Summer Food Service Program to Pershing County.
This is the third year the Frontier Community Action Agency will sponsor the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), in which lunches will be served to all children 18 and younger, free of charge. It will begin on Monday June 11, starting at noon in Lovelock City Park.
The SFSP can assist children in consuming a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages from within the basic food groups while choosing foods that limit the intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars and salt. Nutrient-dense foods are those foods that provide a significant amount of vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) and relatively few calories.
Calcium potassium, fiber, magnesium and vitamin E are nutrients that have been found to be low in the dietary intakes of some children and adolescents. (Information from http://www.summerfood.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 together when able to, and they welcome all of those 18 and younger interested in a free lunch to stop by throughout the summer.
The program will run each Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) through Aug. 17 from noon to 1 p.m. at Lovelock City Park, 400 Main St.
While nutrition and feeding local 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 LOTS of them, especially in the months of June, July and August.
Volunteers can help with basic 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 in Lovelock, please contact Stephanie Wenzel at 535 12th St. She can also be reached at (775) 273-2453.
To learn more about the FCAA, please call (775) 623-9003, or stop by their offices at 640 Melarkey St., Suite 3, in Winnemucca. The more people know about the social issues affecting the community, the more likely they are to take action to help or know how to help their own children and families.
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