In a press release Wednesday, the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) announced that it is looking for sponsors for its 2019 Summer Food Service Program, which provides lunch for school-aged children during the summer months.

“Many families depend on school meals to provide nourishment to their children during the school year,” the press release stated. “When school is out, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) fills the ‘nutrition gap’ at feeding sites operated by approved sponsors.”

Sponsors are generally community organizations, such as schools, faith-based organizations and other non-profits, willing to provide free meals to needy children.

According to the release, organizations may be reimbursed for snacks and meals that meet USDA guidelines.

“This program is essential in meeting the hunger gap in the summer for children who depend on school meals as the only meal they have during the day,” said Ed Crenshaw, ALSDE Public Information Specialist. “Keeping children healthy keeps them in sync with their peers concerning academics, physical fitness, and emotional health so they are not behind when school starts back in the fall.”

Crenshaw noted that Alabama ranks 6th nationally for child hunger – up from its previous standing at 4th only two year ago – and some 271,000 children across the state rely on these services in order to get a healthy meal each day.

“We are making strides in ending child hunger,” Crenshaw said. “But we still have a ways to go.”

Because it is sponsored by the USDA, it might be assumed that the government shutdown, which has shuddered other USDA operations, cold adversely impact the vital feeding program, but Crenshaw disagrees.

“We do not anticipate any problems from the government shutdown since the program is only offered during the summer,” Crenshaw said. “Hopefully, by then, the shutdown will be over.”

Selma City Schools Child Nutrition Program (CNP) Director Aleia Adams said an average of 1,000 children in Selma are fed each day through the program each summer.

Selma High School is the primary location where food is prepared, but Adams noted that there are 24 sites throughout the city that serve meals to children daily during the summer.

The program is administered locally by Selma City Schools and the City of Selma is open to any child 18 or younger.

“This program is important because it provides healthy meals to students during the summer,” Adams said. “For nine months, students receive two meals daily during the school week – this program will allow this to continue during the summer.”

Sponsors are there to locate and recruit food service sites, as well as hire, train and supervise staff and volunteers.

Further, sponsors will arrange for the preparation of meals, monitor distribution sites and prepare claims for reimbursement.

“We want our students to remain healthy and nourished during these eight weeks to be alert and ready when school starts back in August,” Adam said.

Dallas County Schools CNP Director Dr. Latonia Thrash was contacted for this article but preferred not to comment since she discussed it last summer with a separate news organization. She can be reached at 334-872-6251 for details on Dallas County Schools summer feeding program.

For more information on the program or to become a sponsor, call 334-694-4656 or visit www.BreakForAPlate.com.