Texas Department of Agriculture Accepting Summer Nutrition Program (1/29/2015)

AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting applications from eligible organizations to participate in summer nutrition programs. Such programs help feed children who do not have access to nutritious meals when schools close for summer. Summer nutrition programs are vital, as 18 percent of Texas households are considered food insecure, which means not everyone in the household has consistent access to good nutrition.

“At the Texas Department of Agriculture, we are committed to ensuring Texas children have healthy meals during the summer,” Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said. “Children in our communities do not have to go hungry. It is essential for our agency to partner with local organizations to make certain the summer nutrition programs work, and I look forward to another year of great partnerships.”  

TDA administers two programs federally funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that are aimed at addressing childhood hunger in Texas. The Seamless Summer Option allows schools to provide meals to eligible and in need children, while the Summer Food Service Program provides government entities and non-profit organizations with the opportunity to participate.

Organizations partner with TDA to serve meals at sites across the state in areas where more than 50 percent of children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program. Eligible sponsoring organizations include schools, faith-based groups, nonprofit summer camps, government agencies and other tax-exempt organizations. All meal sites must be sponsored by an organization that has a contract with TDA.

TDA encourages any eligible organization to consider providing this much-needed service to Texas children. Approved sponsors, operating in accordance with federal and state regulations, will be reimbursed for meals served to children. All new and returning sponsors are required to take training courses before participating in the Summer Food Service Program. The deadline for a new sponsor to apply for participation in the Summer Food Service Program is April 15, 2015.

For more information about TDA’s Summer Nutrition Programs, visit www.summerfood.org.

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The U.S Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).