SUPTS. MEMO. NO. 29
February 14, 1997 |
TO: | Division Superintendents |
FROM: | Richard T. La Pointe
Superintendent of Public Instruction |
SUBJECT: | Summer Food Service Program |
As program plans are made for the coming summer, we want to encourage you to participate in a valuable nutrition program that is available for children in your school communities. The federally funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) financially supports nutritious summer meals for children who live in areas where poor economic conditions exist and who would be deprived of the benefits of healthful, nutritious meals if this program was not available. Statistics on students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches indicate there are many more students who could benefit from the Summer Food Service Program. The number of Virginia children who have benefited from the SFSP is small compared to the number of students who benefit from the National School Lunch Program. The priority of the U. S. Department of Agriculture is to reach 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 in one or more of your schools, you are encouraged to consider this program. Free meals are available to all children enrolled in those schools that meet the criteria for the program. Last summer, schools in 27 Virginia school divisions sponsored the SFSP. Schools have known service areas and knowledgeable personnel which makes them more ready to offer SFSP. In other situations, the school food service vended the meals to another agency-sponsored SFSP. Federal reimbursement is provided for both meals and administrative costs. 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 SFSP in Virginia. These offices have personnel to provide assistance on this program. Enclosed is a fact sheet with further information on the operation of the SFSP. Applications should be submitted no later than May 16, 1997. The earlier an application is made; however, more time will be available to plan and organize the summer program. Once again we encourage you to offer this nutrition program in your schools if there is an economic need. If you would like application materials or additional information, please contact the USDA at (609) 259-5134 or write Attention: Summer Food Service Program, Mercer Corporate Park, USDA, Food and Consumer Service, 300 Corporate Boulevard, Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1598. RTL/idl Attachments: A hard copy of this memo and its attachment will be sent to the superintendent's office.