News Article - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Contact:	Jacqueline Reis, 781-338-3115

Summer Meals Program Will Target Childhood Hunger by Providing Children and Youth Access to Healthy Meals

2016 Summer Food Service Program to provide tens of thousands of children meals at no cost

MALDEN - The Baker-Polito Administration, in collaboration with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), will launch the 2016 Summer Food Service Program in June. The program is a federally-funded initiative that provides free meals to children age 18 and younger when school is not in session. During the 2014-15 school year, an average of 301,000 children received free or reduced-price meals at their school each day. During the summer months, children lose access to that nutritious food, and families frequently find it difficult to pay for the additional meals. The Summer Food Service Program fills this meal gap by providing nutritious meals in eligible areas throughout the state. "The lieutenant governor and I are pleased that community partners have stepped up again this year to offer students the healthy food they need, especially over the summer," said Governor Charlie Baker. "This important program offers nutritious meals to students who need it most, allowing them and their families to focus on having a great summer and prepare for the next school year." The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the Summer Food Service Program, which is administered in Massachusetts by ESE. The program provides children with access to nutritious meals at schools, parks, swimming pools, playgrounds and other community sites, often in conjunction with enrichment and recreational activities. Without access to meals, children are at greater risk of unhealthy eating habits, weight gain and summer learning loss. "Students' needs don't change when school is out," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester. "We look forward to working with sponsors to feed even more children this year." "Ensuring children receive healthy food year-round is essential to DTA's mission," said Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Jeff McCue. "This program allows children from low-income households to receive essential nutritious meals to ensure they are ready to learn even when school is out of session. I applaud the work of all the program partners for their commitment to keeping the Commonwealth's children healthy and learning." Participation in the summer feeding program has increased annually since targeted outreach initiatives began in 1992. Last summer, over 100 sponsoring organizations participated and together fed an average of nearly 60,000 young people per day at more than 1,000 feeding sites across the state. The program is expected to reach even more children this summer. Many Summer Food Service Programs are expected to open before July 4, 2016 and operate until mid-August. Sponsors operate the sites with close technical support from ESE and outreach assistance from the Child Nutrition Outreach Program at Project Bread. Organizations that are interested in becoming a sponsor or a site can contact the Child Nutrition Outreach Program at Project Bread at 617-239-2510. Sponsors can include nonprofit organizations; units of municipal, county, state or federal government; public or private nonprofit residential camps; and public or private nonprofit school food authorities. Information on this summer's locations will be available in June on the Project Bread website, by calling Project Bread's Food Source Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 or by texting 617-863-MEAL (6325). To watch a short video on the Summer Food Service program, go to Getting Involved With SFSP

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Last Updated: April 13, 2016