INFORMATIONAL

  As plans are made for summer programs, we want to encourage
  you to participate in a valuable food service program that is
  available for children.  The federally funded Summer Food
  Service Program (SFSP) provides funding for nutritious meals
  served to children who live in areas where poor economic
  conditions exist, and who would otherwise be deprived of the
  benefits of healthful, nutritious meals.  Federal fund
  reimbursement is provided for both the meals provided and the
  administrative costs. 
     
  In Virginia the number of children provided the benefits of
  the SFSP is small compared to the National School Lunch
  Program.  In addition, statistics for the SFSP show a low
  participation as compared with the number of Virginia school
  children eligible for free and reduced price school lunches.
  
  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is very
  interested in providing the SFSP in areas where poor economic
  conditions exist.  If the number of children eligible to
  receive free or reduced price meals under the National School
  Lunch Program exceeds 50 percent at one or more of your
  schools, you are encouraged to consider this program. In that
  situation, all children who participate would receive free
  meals.  
  
  Since schools have known service areas, established infra-structures,
  and knowledgeable food service personnel, they are
  readily able to provide the SFSP.  In other situations, the
  school food service may act as a vendor to provide meals for
  a SFSP which is sponsored by another agency.  Last summer,
  schools in 22 Virginia school divisions provided the SFSP for
  children.  Please consider this opportunity to provide the
  Summer Food Service Program's benefits for children in your
  locality.  
  
  The SFSP is administered in Virginia by the Mid-Atlantic
  Regional Office of the Food and Consumer Service, U. S.
  Department of Agriculture.  While the regional office is
  located in New Jersey, it maintains several field offices
  (list enclosed) that work locally with the SFSP in Virginia
  where the USDA staff are available to provide assistance.
  
  Applications should be submitted no later than May 10,1996;
  however, the earlier application is made the more time will be
  available to prepare for the summer program.  The USDA will be
  scheduling orientation and update session the weeks of April
  8 and April 15, 1996.
  
  An enclosure provides additional facts about the SFSP and the
  USDA field offices that service the Commonwealth.  If you
  would like application materials or additional information,
  please contact the USDA at the toll-free telephone number
  (800) 572-8611 or  Attention: Summer Food Service Program,
  USDA, Food and Consumer Service, 300 Corporate Boulevard,
  Robbinsville, NJ 08691.
  
  
  WCBjr/idl
  Enclosures:  A COPY OF THIS MEMO AND ITS ATTACHMENTS WILL
               BE SENT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.