Summer Food Service Program
Encyclopedia
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) operates in low-income areas during the summer
months to provide meals and snacks to children in summer day camps. Federal support consists of guaranteed cash and commodity assistance and support for administration and operating expenses. It is authorized under the National School Lunch Act
(P.L. 79-396, as amended), administered by the Food and Nutrition Service
, and funded by annual agriculture appropriations.
The number of sites where children can receive the summer lunch services as of 2009 was 34,700. As of 2009 11% of the children who receive lunch during the school year through the National School Lunch Program were receiving summer food assistance through this program.
According to the USDA, hunger during the summer can lead to problems that last past the summer months. It’s website says, "Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again. Hunger also may make children more prone to illness and other health issues. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill that nutrition gap and make sure children can get the nutritious meals they need." http://www.summerfood.usda.gov/ To help elevate these problems the USDA is currently looking for sponsors of sites, people willing to open a feeding site and volunteers for these sites.
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
months to provide meals and snacks to children in summer day camps. Federal support consists of guaranteed cash and commodity assistance and support for administration and operating expenses. It is authorized under the National School Lunch Act
National School Lunch Act
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The act created the National School Lunch Program , a program to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools...
(P.L. 79-396, as amended), administered by the Food and Nutrition Service
Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service , an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture , was established on August 8, 1969. FNS is the federal agency responsible for administering the nation’s domestic nutrition assistance programs...
, and funded by annual agriculture appropriations.
The number of sites where children can receive the summer lunch services as of 2009 was 34,700. As of 2009 11% of the children who receive lunch during the school year through the National School Lunch Program were receiving summer food assistance through this program.
According to the USDA, hunger during the summer can lead to problems that last past the summer months. It’s website says, "Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again. Hunger also may make children more prone to illness and other health issues. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill that nutrition gap and make sure children can get the nutritious meals they need." http://www.summerfood.usda.gov/ To help elevate these problems the USDA is currently looking for sponsors of sites, people willing to open a feeding site and volunteers for these sites.