Neighborhood children enjoyed a free, nutritious meal as part of the 2017 statewide Summer Food Service Program. Organizations from around the state will meet Feb. 13 to discuss ways to get more children participating in the Summer Food Service Program this year.
Photo by Mike Marsee, June 15, 2017
(Frankfort, KY.) – Organizations from around the state will meet on Feb. 13 to discuss ways to alleviate child hunger during the summer months. The Summer Meals Summit will be held from 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET at the Kentucky Science Center in Louisville.
During the Summer Meals Summit, participants will explore creative partnerships and best practices to assist organizations and sponsors in improving accessibility to meals under the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). It is estimated that only one in 12 Kentucky children who received free or reduced-price meals during the school year received a meal from the SFSP during summer 2017.
The SFSP is a federally-funded child nutrition program aimed at providing nourishing meals to children who depend on free or reduced lunch during the school year and are at risk of poor nutrition during the summer when they are not in school. Organizations that provide oversight and meals at the local level include school districts, private nonprofit organizations and government entities.
The summit will feature representatives from Housing and Urban Development, Rural Development, Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society, Dairy Alliance, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Family Resource and Youth Services, Berea College, Grow Appalachia, Kentucky Association of Food Banks, private nonprofit and school district Summer Meals sponsors.
Planned speakers include Kentucky Commissioner of Education Stephen Pruitt, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles and Vice President of Global Development and Membership at the International Coach Federation Colmon Elridge.
Tools and incentives also will be provided to help increase awareness of the SFSP in local communities.
The Kentucky SFSP is administered by the Kentucky Department of Education, Division of School and Community Nutrition.
Organizations interested in more information about how to provide meals as a Summer Food Service Program sponsor or interested in attending the SFSP Summit are encouraged to contact Cathy Gallagher.
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