DPR and OSSE Join USDA, America’s Second Harvest and Celebrities to Celebrate Free Summer Meals for Nation’s Youth
WHO:
- Clark E. Ray (Director, DC Department of Parks and Recreation)
- Deborah A. Gist (State Superintendent of Education, Office of the State Superintendent of Education)
- Nancy Montanez Johner (USDA’s Under Secretary for the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services)
- Vicki Escarra (President and CEO of America’s Second Harvest)
- Diane Farr (Actress)
- The Power Panther (USDA Mascot)
WHAT:
District government agencies - DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) - will join the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), America’s Second Harvest and celebrities for national kick off event to raise awareness about and encourage nationwide participation in the USDA’s newly expanded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The Program provides low-income children with free, nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session. The District’s Free Summer Meals Program ranks first in the nation.
WHERE:
Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center
4300 Anacostia Ave., NE Washington, DC 20019
(202) 727-2485
WHEN:
Monday June 30, 2008
11:30 am to 12:30 pm
WHY:
The District’s Free Summer Meals Program ranks first in the nation. This event celebrates the expansion of a “simplified” version of the Summer Food Service Program from 26 states to all 50 states. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides nutritious meals for children and youth under the age of 18 during the summer months when school is not in session.
Over 18 million children rely on free or reduced priced meals during the school year. In 2007, the Summer Food Service Program provided meals for less than 2 million children. The expansion of simplified SFSP marks an opportunity to serve more children and youth meals this summer, by making it easier than ever to sponsor a feeding site. To help feed more children this year, families need to know where the program is in operation.
About DC Department of Parks and Recreation
The District of Columbia’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) presents quality urban recreation and leisure services to residents and visitors to the District of Columbia. The agency supervises and maintains area parks, community facilities, and neighborhood recreation centers as well as coordinates a wide variety of programs including sports leagues, youth development, therapeutic recreation, aquatic programming, outdoor adventure, camping, child care services, and senior citizen activities. Adaptive programs and facilities are available for persons with disabilities. DPR is the largest sponsor of Free Summer Meals locations in the District of Columbia.
About The Office of the State Superintendent of Education
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), formerly known as the State Education Office (SEO), is a high-performing, transparent agency that sets proactive policies, exercises vigilant oversight, and directs resources that guarantee residents educated in the District of Columbia are among the highest performers in the nation; fully prepared for successful postsecondary learning and employment in the creative economy. OSSE manages the Free Summer Meals Program in the District of Columbia.
About the United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. The vision of the federal agency is to be recognized as a dynamic organization that is able to efficiently provide the integrated program delivery needed to lead a rapidly evolving food and agriculture system.
About America’s Second Harvest- The Nation’s Food Bank Network
America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, America's Second Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. To learn more, please visit www.secondharvest.org