Summer Food Program Seeking Community Partners For 2019

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Department of Human Services hopes to recruit more partners to help feed children while out of school.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) will once again open the application process for organizations to participate in this year’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) on Friday, February 1, 2019.

The goal of the SFSP is to ensure that children 18 and younger who benefit from meal programs during the school year continue to have that same access to nutritious meals during the summer.

The application process seeks out organizations, governmental entities, schools, religious entities, and non-profit residential camps who are interested in sponsoring the program and serving meals to children in their communities.

While the Department encourages sponsors in every county, this work is especially important in Bedford, Cheatham, Hickman, Humphreys, Moore, and Wayne Counties, which did not have sponsors last year. TDHS is hoping to change that this year with sponsors willing to serve those counties.

“Our goal is to establish a Summer Food Service Program partner for every county in Tennessee,” said TDHS Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes. “These partnerships are essential to building a thriving Tennessee because they ensure our children are eating healthy meals during the summer. Studies have found children do better in school if they have access to adequate nutrition during the summer break. This is where we can all come together to help.”

In addition to children of school age, adults 19 and older with a mental or physical disability are eligible to receive meals if they participate in a school program established for individuals with disabilities during the prior school year.

Organizations interested in becoming sponsors can learn more at the Summer Food Service Program Summer Summit:

January 24 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CST.
Tennessee State Guard Building.
3401 Sidco Drive, Nashville.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-summer-summit-tickets-53867377777

Applications will be accepted until May 1, 2019. If your organization is interested in becoming an SFSP sponsor or becoming a feeding site under an existing sponsor, please contact the TDHS by e-mail at TNSFSP.DHS@tn.gov.

For more information on the Summer Food Service Program, please visit: http://tn.gov/humanservices/topic/learn-about-the-summer-food-service-program

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) found online at http://www.aser.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: