Public Policy - has information about Public Policy and Federal Food Assistance programs, including links to updates on relevant legislation and outreach materials and tips for increasing participation in Federal Food Assistance Programs.

Summer Food Program

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally funded child nutrition program that provides reimbursement to local sponsors who supply free, nutritious meals to low-income children during the summer months when school meals are not available. This program provides a nutrition safety net for low-income children.

In Sacramento County:

• Two main sponsors (The City of Sacramento and Sacramento City Unified School District) supplied food to 183 sites in summer 2002; many of the City sites are run by volunteers.
• The percentage of children enrolled in the school lunch program during the year and participating in the summer lunch program increased from 7.1% in 1991 to 35.9% in 2002.
• The number of lunches served through the program increased from 102,261 in 1991 to 430,458 in 2002.
• Only 28% of eligible children participated in the free Summer Lunch Program in 2002.
  

Free summer lunches are being served at sites in schools, churches, parks, community-based organizations, and apartment complexes by trained volunteers and site coordinators. Meals are often provided in conjunction with educational, developmental, and recreational activities.

In 1994, the Sacramento Hunger Commission implemented a successful social marketing campaign to increase Summer Lunch participation in Sacramento County.

For more information on Summer Lunch sites in Sacramento County, call Infoline at (916) 498-1000.

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