CHEYENNE – In an effort to combat hunger and poor nutrition, the Wyoming Department of Education is seeking sponsors for a federally funded program to provide nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.
“Last year, Wyoming Summer Food Service Program [SFSP] sites provided 296,071 meals and snacks to children and teenagers,” said WDE Nutrition Team Supervisor Tamra Jackson. “That was an increase of almost 55,000 additional meals over the previous summer, but is still only 50% of the meals we serve to at-risk students during the school year.”
Typical sponsors include public and private nonprofit schools; local, municipal, county, tribal and state government entities; private nonprofit organizations; public and private nonprofit camps; and public and private nonprofit universities or colleges. Sponsors are reimbursed a set amount per each meal served.
Summer food program sites must be in the attendance area of a school where 50 percent or more of students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals, or the site must be within the boundaries of a U.S. Census block where at least 50 percent of children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals at school. The sites are open to all area children under age 18.
For more information on sponsoring a SFSP in your community, please contact Amanda Anderson at 307-777-7168, or amanda.anderson@wyo.gov. For a listing of current Wyoming SFSP sites, dial 211.
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, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
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 responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 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 discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint 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: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
– END –
Media Contact:
Kari Eakins, Communications Director
kari.eakins@wyo.gov
307-777-2053
