For Release: IMMEDIATE
Date: June 8, 2006

Kids can get free meals through the Summer Food Service Program

RALEIGH — When school is out of session during the summer, many children may not get the nutritious meals they need to grow and thrive. The national Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals in communities across the state for children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals at school, or who live in communities where the majority of children qualify. The week of June 4-10 has been declared National Summer Food Service Week to draw attention to the program.

Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this free program. Children do not need to register to receive the meals, and there is no fee.

The approved SFSP sites where kids 18 and under can get the free meals include schools, local government agencies, private non-profits, parks, swimming pools, vacation Bible schools and low-income housing complexes. Participating organizations receive funds to provide meals to complement the recreational and educational programs that they already offer.

“We know that children from low-income families will be hungry when their schools are closed, because there is not enough food for them at home,” said Cynthia Ervin, coordinator of the SFSP in North Carolina. “During those long summer months, the Summer Food Service Program serves what may too often be some children’s only nutritious meal of the day. Children need to get good healthy meals throughout the summer so they can continue to grow, play and learn even when they don’t have access to regular school lunches and breakfasts,” she said.

For a list of Summer Food Service Program sites and for more information, visit the N.C. Nutrition Services web site at www.nutritionnc.com or call the N.C. CARE-LINE at 1-800-662-7030 (TTY: 1-877-452-2514). The list is updated every Friday. Currently, there are over 140 sites in 22 counties on the list, but more are being added as new sites sign up and are approved.

The Summer Food Service Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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