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Summer food program

Summer is a good time to take a break from many things, such as school and work. But it shouldn’t be a time away from healthy eating. Thanks to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, which kicked off in cities statewide this month, Texas children won’t have to go hungry this summer.

“We need to do everything in our power to make sure our children have access to nutritious meals during the summer,” Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. “That’s why I’m excited nearly 2,700 sites across the Lone Star State are teaming up with the Texas Department of Agriculture to feed children through the summer nutrition programs.”

The Summer Food Service Program, created under the National School Lunch Act of 1946, is a federally funded program that reimburses organizations for sponsoring summer meals for low-income children. The program is offered statewide in areas where more than 50 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program. Sponsor organizations are typically schools, non-profits and churches.

In 2007, 309 sponsors served more than 13 million meals to children through the program at more than 2,500 sites. For a list of this summer’s participating sites visit www.squaremeals.org or call the Food and Nutrition Division office at (877) TEX-MEAL, 877-839-6325.