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Media Advisory No. 5092.11
CONTACT:
USDA Office of Communications
(202) 720-4623
USDA to Host Media Conference Call on Opportunities to Feed More Hungry Children this Summer
Under Secretary Kevin Concannon and Anti-Hunger Advocates Highlight First-Ever National Summer Food Service Program Awareness Week
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2011— TODAY, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon will host a national conference call with hunger advocates to promote USDA's Summer Food Service Program and other initiatives across the country to feed more hungry children this summer. Under Secretary Concannon will also highlight the first-ever National Summer Food Service Program Week: “Food That’s In, When School Is Out,” a week-long campaign to raise awareness about the risk of hunger low-income children face during the summer months and the important nutrition benefits of the Summer Food Service Program and other programs that can make sure children have access to nutritious food year round.
Today, at least 17 million children face a higher risk for hunger in the United States during the summer months. Although more than 21 million children nationwide receive free and reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program during the regular school year, little more than 3 million kids are fed in summer meals programs. Mr. Concannon will discuss the Administration’s commitment to feed hungry children and efforts to increase awareness about the benefits of the Summer Food Service Program among parents and caregivers of low-income children. USDA’s partners, will also talk about their initiatives to feed more children this summer.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
3:00 p.m. EST
WHAT: Media conference call to discuss efforts to combat childhood hunger during the summer and to kick-off the first-ever, National Summer Food Service Program Week: “Food That’s In, When School Is Out.”
WHO: Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
James Weill, President, The Food Research and Action Center
Josh Wachs, Chief Strategy Officer, Share Our Strength
KJ Lavoie, Senior Director, Office of Government Relations, Boys and Girls Club of America
DIAL-IN Audio Bridge Number: 800-857-5233
PASSCODE: SECY (Given Verbally)
Troubleshooting: 202-720-8560
All callers using the above pass code will be placed in listen only mode. To join the Q&A portion of the meeting, these callers are instructed to press *1 on their touch tone phone.
About Summer Food Service Program: Children need healthy food all year long. During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. When school lets out, many of these children are at risk of hunger. Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to learning. Lack of nutrition during the summer months sets up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again and makes children more prone to illness and other health issues. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill that nutrition gap and make sure children get the nutritious meals they need.
About USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service: FNS oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs. These programs serve one in four Americans over the course of a year and work together to form a national safety net against hunger. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs.
